Toolkit on Zero Waste: Go Zero, Danube

Table of contents Introduction

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Ecological problems and environmental threats along the Danube

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Zero Waste – lesson from nature, or the life of a leaf

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The solution: Zero Waste

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The 5Rs

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10 items based on the 5Rs

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Myths about Zero Waste

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Inside the house

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In the kitchen

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Food waste at home

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Practical advice for fresh produce

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Regrowing 31 In the bathroom

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Guide to Zero Waste period products

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Alternative period products

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In your closet

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An ode to Second-Hand

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Introduction to Fair Fashion

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Short guide to quality labels

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The secret of making your clothes last longer

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Living with less: Capsule wardrobe

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Personalize your clothes

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Learn more about fair clothing

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Cleaning DIY

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Proposals for more solutions in the house

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Tools for washing your clothes

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Upcycling 60 Energy efficiency at home

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Zero Waste on a budget

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Zero Waste and pets

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Zero waste parenting

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Outside the house

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Travelling and vacations

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Transport 77 At school and work

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Shopping 80 Restaurants (to go, leftovers)

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More about food waste in restaurants

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Gardening 87 Protecting the Danube

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Trivia about materials and resources

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Electronics

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Alternatives to plastic

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Plastic straws

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Plastic bag facts – once and forever

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Fabrics 98 Man-made cellulosic fibres

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Synthetic fibres

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Are shopping receipts recyclable?

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Self-care

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Beauty ceremonial

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Zero Waste self-care beauty products

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Complementary and alternative medicine

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Inside your mind

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Environmental activism

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Communication about Zero Waste

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Personal questions with Teodora Garkova

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Differences between what you want and what you need

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Connecting with nature

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Greenwashing 126 Test your “carbon footprint”

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Questions and answers

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More about the project

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Testimonies 145

Implementing organizations

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Apps

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Literature

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Reports on Waste and Plastic

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Filmography

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Interesting links

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Glossary of Waste

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Imprint

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Introduction

Many people do not fully realize that most of our current problems have emerged due to human ignorance, unawareness or lack of desire to make changes. For the greater part of the world population, problems such as hunger, weather disasters and global warming seem alien and distant – but ecological challenges are no longer the exception. Due to the industrial revolution and ongoing human development, people tend to have forgotten about our belonging to the planet and the ecosystem in general. As a result, all living creatures, including human beings, struggle with extensive catastrophes that are environmental problems. Waste has been one extremely damaging result of consumption and human-made developments.

As an example, the Danube is the “most multinational” river in the world, and is constantly threatened by new sources of pollution. One of the biggest sources of pollution is microplastics, which also threaten fish and fish larvae.

It is estimated that about 40 tons of microplastics are transported annually through the river.

We all play a role in this, and constantly need to rethink ways we can create a cleaner world around us. Reducing plastic use is the biggest thing everyone can do to prevent further waste and pollution. Plastic is so present in our

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modern-day lives that it is often inescapable for consumers. But if we all changed our behaviour even a little bit, imagine how much of a difference it would make!

After all, it’s not only about plastic – it is most of all about the air, soil and water ... So many things around us are polluted because of the way we live. It is beyond doubt that we need to relearn our connectedness to nature in order to protect our planet.

This booklet will provide inspiration and guidance on sustainable living. It will mainly focus on Zero Waste practices, and the general background behind waste reduction. We are convinced that living according to Zero Waste principles is the key to sustainable development.

This toolkit has been carefully created by 45 young changemakers from the Danube region who have realized that it is time to take action.

The following chapters were written in the framework of the project “Go Zero, Danube!”, a European youth project that contributes to a clean and healthy Danube region, involving the affected countries. In four international youth exchanges, the youth dive into topics of waste prevention, upcycling and Zero Waste, and learn about practical solutions to protect the planet.

We hope that you will enjoy it!

The Go Zero Danube Team

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Ecological problems and environmental threats along the Danube 1 Katya Klymenko Our civilization is at risk. Clean water is the fastest depleting resource in the world. Without water, there is no life. Life is water. The largest river in Europe, the Danube, sustains the natural environments of 10 different countries, many of which are careful about protecting it from sewage and waste. With the political institutions in place, most countries agree to keep the Danube clean.

Thus we might expect hope on the horizon, if all members of our communities commit to reducing greenhouse gas pollution, such as preventing further oil and gas development.

However, trade and tourist boats often pollute the river and ruin the natural environment, threatening the life of plants and animals. Garbage and chemicals are the residue of regular trips on the river. It is important to save our clean water, without which we will lose flora and fauna, and end up relying on plastic even more than we already do, to increase the supply of bottled water. Human activities using water have increased the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in nature. Their overabundance makes phytoplankton and algae 1 www.worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Climate-Change/Greenhouse-Gases www.youtube.com/watch?v=luakq7Ip_Yc

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overgrow. When harmful algae blooms, it produces deadly toxins, taking the shape of red and brown tides in the water. It kills marine life, and harms us.

When this algae decomposes, bacteria suck up oxygen in the water, creating zones where fish cannot live.

Climate change has created adverse effects on our communities, flooding towns and damaging infrastructure. Pollution makes it hard to maintain livestock, and causes health issues in the food chain. Our warming climate has created conditions where droughts and fires happen more frequently, threatening all life in our ecosystem. Water is scarce, and our soil is being degraded. The Danube’s largest wetland naturally cleans the water before it reaches the sea, but with the current threats to our climate, this important wetland will disappear, just as half of the world’s wetlands have in the past 100 years.

Let’s have a look at why we need to focus on waste reduction in the Danube region. The following give us some insight into the waste challenges in Bulgaria, Germany, Ukraine and Croatia.

In Bulgaria, the Danube waters are used for transport, fishing, tourism, domestic supply, irrigation, industrial water supply and energy production, as well as for discharging industrial and household waste water. Compared with

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1980, the total flow of the Bulgarian tributaries of the Danube has decreased by 25 - 35%. This decrease in flow affects water quality, since the capacity of the Danube to dilute the concentration of waste water pollutants is reduced, worsening water quality. 2

Water quantity problems (industry) The main causes of water quantity problems in the industrial sector are high water consumption technology and bad housekeeping by some companies.

Water quality deterioration is mainly due to the lack of wastewater treatment plants in many urban areas, and to the low percentage of “clean technology” used in industry. Better understanding of the sources of pollution, and a strategy to address the problem, are needed. There are EU-supported programmes for construction of industrial and municipal treatment facilities that could improve the situation nationally and basin-wide.

2 www.d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/wwidanubebulgaria.pdf

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Water quantity problems (household) The main cause of water quantity problems related to domestic supply is water loss in the distribution system, and the fact that many well-known water saving measures are not implemented in households. The problems have beenidentified and assessed at a national level, and are acknowledged by the Basin Directorate. There is a need to further develop a strategy to address the specific problems in the basin.

From a German perspective, the Danube river is a beautiful and historical river. However, it does have problems along its streams.

Fishermen and water sports enthusiasts have observed tourist cruisers dumping their waste illegally at spots along their route. Water analyses have shown that alarming amounts of bacteria are present in certain areas of the river, which affects the ecosystem and the health and security of those who want to enjoy the water, and nature. During dry summer seasons, the water level drops substantially, which means that ships need to adjust their weight.

However, this is a natural process, and causes problems for the ships and not the environment. 3 In Ukraine, there are three beautiful sub-basins of the Danube: the Tisza, Prut and Siret basins collectively make up the Danube Delta. The green zone is a cause of debate between the government and activists around the prevention of ecocide.

Parts of the delta flood over the spring and summer, and experience dry spells in August and throughout autumn. The delta has a very diverse ecosystem, ranging from otters to flamingos and dolphins. It is currently under debate whether shipping ports will be constructed to help the country’s economy, 3 www.volksanwaltschaft.gv.at/artikel/verschmutzung-der-donau-durch-faekalien www.donaukurier.de/nachrichten/bayern/Wetter-Schifffahrt-NIEDERBAYERN-Bayern-Sinkende-Pegelstaende-aufDonau-Schifffahrt-drohen-Probleme;art155371,4263509

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because this will risk the natural balance of the delta’s health, as well as involve the high costs of building new infrastructure. The river cities of the region currently receive around 40% of their water from ground sources.

In Croatia, there are only 138 km of the Danube river, of which 130 km creates a natural border with Serbia. However, two big tributary rivers – Sava and Drava – flow through Croatia. It is important to protect these rivers, as both join the Danube.

The very important nature park Kopački Rit exists thanks to the Drava and the Danube rivers. It is home to more than 2 300 species, some of which are rare or endangered. Approximately 140 bird species nest in this area. The nature park is listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and, in 1993, it became a Wetland of International Importance in the framework of the Ramsar Convention. In 2012, UNESCO established the Mura-Drava-Danube Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, with Kopački Rit as its most valuable part.

In 2004, toxic mud from the aluminium industry in Hungary became a major threat to the park. Building a mound prevented mud from entering, and water analysis is now carried out continuously.

The stretch of the Danube in Croatia is partly navigable, so it is also important to consider sustainable navigation and transport to keepi the river and its surroundings pristine.

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For the Danube and its tributaries, it is important to improve the system of purification of waste water from big cities, such as Zagreb, which has yet to build one. The second problem in terms of Danube pollution is agricultural contamination with pesticides and other chemicals that end up in the river.

The level of use of these agents has to be reduced along the whole river flow, because they not only pollute the Danube but the Black Sea. Phillip Weller, ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River), 2004

In 2004, a central plant for wastewater purification was installed in Zagreb, despite a conclusion by experts in 1998 that the plant would not make the river Sava any cleaner. The problem lay in the basic mechanical design of the plant, which could not cope with the torrential waters that bring in most of the pollution. The problem of poor water quality was, however, solved when significant polluters ceased operations, and industries installed devices for

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pretreatment of their waste water.

In 2020, a deal for a project to upgrade the existing water purification plant was signed. The upgrade should lower the residual levels of organic matter and the nitrogen and phosphorus levels. 4

Fish and microplastics The ecological problems described above are not unique to the Danube. All around us, our planet is suffering from environmental pollution, exacerbated by the sometimes unwitting complicity of those causing it. With the promotion of consumption as the answer to all economic problems after World War 2, and the invention of plastic, increasing production in all sectors, the emergence of a throwaway society was inevitable. Zero Waste as an attitude and lifestyle is the most promising solution we have. Coming from the Danube perspective, we want to widen the

Zero Waste – lesson from nature, or the life of a leaf Maryna Potriina Imagine that you are in a forest — look around, and listen. Do you feel that anything does not fit, or is not in balance with its surroundings?

Unless there are signs of human activity in your imaginary forest, this is unlikely, because in nature, everything has its own designation during its lifespan, and even after death. Nature does not know what waste means, and 4 www.crorivers.com/dunav www.dw.com/hr/%C5%A1to-ako-ma%C4%91arski-otrov-do%C4%91e-u-hrvatsku/a-6100291 www.voda.hr/hr/novosti/lijepi-plavi-dunav www.dw.com/hr/dunav-je-vise-od-vode-koja-tece/a-2281165 www.energetika-net.com/u-fokusu/komentar-kratki-spoj/nazovimo-zagrebacki-procistac-otpadnih-vodabandicevim-imenom-13936 www.vecernji.hr/zagreb/predstavljen-projekt-nadogradnja-uredaja-za-prociscavanje-otpadnih-voda-gradazagreba-1451948

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has instruments and mechanisms for dealing with everything.

We invite you to join us on the journey of a single leaf, in order to understand a Zero Waste lifecycle in nature.

Our leaf has come into the world much sooner than it was supposed to, because the snow has melted earlier than expected and the sun has warmed the tree that it grows on faster than usual.

This is surprising, because the leaf has never heard about climate change, but it simply follows its instincts.

From the very beginning of its life, the leaf starts to “inhale” CO2 and produce oxygen, while enjoying the sun and wind. In addition, it notices that the concentration of gases has increased drastically — meaning that its life will not be as long as its ancestors’.

When the autumn comes, our leaf falls, and some might say that it is dead, and no longer useful. However, life after death exists for leaves. It may be not obvious, but it exists for all living things, without exception.

After falling to the ground, the leaf becomes nutrition for numerous insects and microorganisms. With time, our leaf falls apart, getting smaller and smaller, and in the end becomes a delicious dish for worms.

Finally, after the worm has digested it, our leaf becomes soil, and an amazing fertilizer for the surrounding plants and for its mother tree, which gave it birth.

Everything natural on earth is biodegradable, and does not create pollution or damage to its surroundings at any stage of its life, from its birth till its death, and even after that. Everything has its own purpose — it is just a matter of time for it to complete its mission. The Zero Waste principle is a lesson from nature.

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The solution: Zero Waste

The main reason people start a Zero Waste lifestyle is undoubtedly the positive impact that it has on our planet. Zero Waste is generally aimed at the reduced extraction of raw materials and minimizing pollution of water, soil and air. There are also many other benefits that come from living in an ecologically responsible way, and these can be observed at the personal and social level.

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The health benefits are a result of our conscious selection of organic, fresh and seasonal food that grows without external enhancement. Food that does not contain preservatives is the best way to avoid allergic reactions and improve cognitive growth and the development of the human body (1). The Zero Waste principle is also reflected in the amount that we walk or ride a bike, instead of driving a car.

Main pillars: health (movement, healthy food, less microplastics, no irritation from fragrances, detergents, cosmetics), reduced consumption → budget effectiveness; less waste and more rear cleaning the garbage; aesthetic benefits (at home, outdoors), educational, economics benefits. 5

The 5Rs Aleksa and Diana In our everyday lives, we have everyday habits. Going Zero Waste is a chance to improve our way of life, by making choices and decisions that are good for the environment.

5 Mie, A. Andersen H. R., Gunnarsson, S. , Kahl, J., Kesse-Guyot, E, Rembiałkowska, E., Quaglio, G., & Grandjean, P. (2017). Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review.

Environmental Health. 16: 111.

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Many people believe that going Zero Waste will change their lives for the worse. They think that it is all about expensive goods and the degradation of their ‘’previous’’ lifestyle, but actually, it’s about improving everyday habits.

5R is a short term used to explain 5 basic approaches that we should accept and use in everyday life. Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot are the principles we learned during the Go Zero project.

In order to reduce the waste we affect the world with, we have to start from the easiest and sometimes most efficient step: Refuse.

Although it may sound drastic, refusing means saying no only to unnecessary things, such as flyers, promotional magazines and catalogues, irrelevant stickers and posters, which means significantly reducing the amount of paper wasted; and saying no to all kinds of plastic toys, which might bring us some joy in the moment, but eventually become trash. Mainly, just because it is free it doesn’t mean that you should take it, because it’s not much of a deal either for you or for the environment when you soon have to throw it away.

Secondly, when you are sure that the objects you accept into your life will be useful for some time, meaning that you cannot refuse them altogether, the option of Reducing pops up. This too means tackling the amount of waste you produce. If you think through the utility and quantity of the product you are buying right from the beginning, you save resources, money and even time!

This one sounds tricky, but is relevant for all 5 approaches. When quantities are well planned, by not having to throw a lot of things away you save yourself the time of buying them, of organizing them (in the fridge, for example) and of throwing them away afterwards. And let’s be honest, taking out the trash is not always a piece of cake!

If, however, you really need to buy 12 jars instead of one, because you use them all at the same time (if you have tried to reduce but it didn’t work out), you can consider reusing them in some way or another. This is generally known as upcycling or Reusing. Upcycling/reusing can include a lot of options: from using old jars as cups, pots or painting receptacles to making a picture frame out of an old TV frame.

Of course, the reuse doesn’t have to be artistic. Our grandmas and grandpas were recycling long before the practice got its name. Look how they use old casserole dishes for packing food, old clothes for making fabric rags, old pieces of wood for new furniture. You can ask them how they do it, and upcycle together to save the environment and get closer to your family.

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Recycling is quite popular, but it should be considered as only the 4th option when it comes to making sure that we are not wasting resources. Every time we recycle something, it is good in the sense that the product is used again, but the value of that product decreases during the recycling process. This is why the Zero Waste community advises us not to consider recycling as the best option for saving the environment.

And last but not least: Rotting. No matter how much attention you pay to the way you buy and use resources, and how carefully you focus on sustainability, at some point you will have to throw something away. Mainly these are things like the peels of fruits and vegetables, egg shells, food that has gone bad, hair, nails, etc. In order not to waste these resources either, we can rot them in compost bins, from which we obtain good plant soil. There are a few rulesto understand about composting, but ultimately it’s not quantum mechanics, and anyone can learn.

If you use a bit of planning and organization and choose as your goal not wasting resources of any kind (and also, as mentioned, saving time and money), you will save a lot of energy. This 5R strategy for life is a way to simplify your life. Literally!

10 items based on the 5Rs Here are 10 home items you can save from the trash and instill with new life and purpose, many times over:

1. Glass jars, containers or cans Glass and metal are easily recycled, but why not cut down on excess packaging and waste by reusing them? Glass jars and old coffee canisters make great containers for bulk pantry items, desk organizers or bathroom containers.

And there are a million ways to reuse mason jars beyond food canning – even many pasta sauce brands use jars that are ideal for food preservation. Got a lot of leftover narrow-necked beer bottles? Make them into a set of drinking glasses! Or how about a wine rack, or display shelves made out of coffee cans?

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2. Gallon jugs, plastic soda bottles, takeout and other plastic containers Beyond using jugs and bottles to store homemade natural cleaners, with a little modification, you can turn those plastic containers into useful household items like this plastic bottle broom! Make bird feeders out of old soda bottles, or food bins, shoe cubbies and dustpans/scoops out of plastic jugs. How about making reusable self-watering seed pots or a cell charging station out of a shampoo bottle? And don’t throw out the takeout containers! Many are sturdy, dishwasher-safe and excellent for reuse in the kitchen.

3. Newspapers, magazines, and paper bags Overrun by paper? There are lots of great ways to repurpose all the paper in your life. Get creative and create amazing and useful woven baskets and trays out of magazines and newspapers. Recycle newspapers, grocery bags and magazines as wrapping paper. How about some compostable seed pots? Or DIY envelopes out of outdated calendar pages? And if you’re really ambitious, make a gorgeous wood-like flooring with paper bags.

4. Clothes, towels, and bedding Don’t throw out old towels, clothes and bedding! Cut them up into washable cleaning rags! Or check out these excellent Pinterest ideas for ways to upcycle old clothes into new! Why not turn those torn t-shirts into beautiful braided rugs? If you’ve got sewing skills, turn old flannels into reusable dusters.

5. Seeds At the end of the growing season, let a couple of your veggies and flowers go to seed, collect the seeds and save them for next season for free! Here’s everything you need to know about harvesting and saving seeds to reuse again and again!

6. Laundry waste If you use them, don’t toss out those old dryer sheets! They make excellent dusting rags, especially for sucking up pet hair. They work great for scrubbing off soap scum and polishing chrome too! You can even make them into a dress if you’re really determined. Collect the lint from the dryer to make recycled paper or papier maché, or even compostable seed pots.

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7. Plastic bags When a box of cereal is empty, save the inner bag, and wash, dry and cut it to wrap sandwiches. Plastic bags can also be used as pet waste bags, or trash bins, or you can reuse them at the grocery store. Better yet, upcycle those plastic bags into nice-looking, sturdy reusable grocery totes!

8. Bathroom items Save old toothbrushes to scrub hard-to-reach places, like grouting and the underneath of the fixtures on taps. Or clean old toothbrushes and reuse as eyebrow brushes, hair-colour applicators or for cleaning tools, electronics or other delicate or hard-to-clean items. An empty toothpaste tube can be repurposed as a funnel by cutting off the bottom, or as a frosting tube for icing cakes. Empty deodorant bottles are perfect for refilling with this DIY deodorant recipe!

9. Broken dishes Collect broken china to re-tile outdoor tables, flower pots, paths, or as a unique border for your garden. Use broken china to make a key fob or jewellery.

Plant small plants in old stained coffee mugs.

10. Old furniture Refinish or repair rather than tossing old furniture. Repurpose broken furniture or disassemble and reuse the wood. Hang drawers on the wall to create shelves, shadow boxes or bulletin boards.

With just a little ingenuity, you can cut down on your ecological footprint, save your pennies and repurpose your trash! What clever home items can you think of to recycle and reuse?

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Myths about Zero Waste

One person can change nothing It’s true that it can be hard for only one person to make a change, but it’s definitely not impossible. Every new thing in the world starts because of one small impact made by one person. As a first step, you can stand out from the crowd and be a good example, and eventually other people will follow you and your ideas. One by one, more people will be inspired with your actions and lifestyle, and they will join you, leading to your first small step in making a global difference.

It takes up a lot of a time At first, when this kind of lifestyle is new to you, it might take more time than your usual way of living, but once you have made it a habit you will do it automatically, and routine tasks will take much less time than before. For example, with your new habits you’ll go to the store less, clean your house less, have less to repair and definitely take out your trash more rarely.

A Zero Waste lifestyle is expensive Zero Waste is about reusing and repairing things instead of throwing them away and buying new ones, which results in saving money. Most of the time we are paying for the packaging more than the actual product inside. For example, refilling the shampoo instead of buying a new plastic bottle every time will avoid wasting resources. Considering your purchases, realising what you actually need and avoiding impulse buying will help you save a lot of money.

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Paper bags are better than plastic bags Research shows that several times more energy and water are needed for the production of paper bags than plastic ones. More toxic chemicals are included in the process of making a single paper bag than a plastic one, which clearly does not make them more eco-friendly. Paper bags are not very durable, and they are more likely to get wet, torn or destroyed, so people have to buy them more often.

Recycling will solve all of our problems That would be great, wouldn’t it? Just put the trash in the appropriate bin and it’s done: you did your part to save the world. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Recycling is a good start, for sure, but looking at the numbers, only 9% of all produced plastic gets recycled. Besides, the process of recycling is itself expensive, complicated and has a negative environmental impact. And last but not least, it results in products of lower quality. Another problem is that recycling makes people feel that they are actually contributing to protecting the environment, and therefore leads them to think that it is okay to buy potentially environmentally harmful products, as long as they recycle them later. However, a far better solution would be to simply buy less, to buy differently and to buy only what you really need. That way, we are more likely to stop the garbage stream from flowing.

With a Zero Waste lifestyle, we produce no trash at all Well, no. Obviously it would be wonderful to live your life leaving no trash at all, but that’s not necessarily what Zero Waste is about. While the goal may indeed be to send no waste to landfill, it is nearly impossible to produce no trash. Therefore, living the Zero Waste lifestyle is rather about trying to reduce, refuse and reuse as much as possible. You don’t have to deverything perfectly, and it is fine to fail sometimes. Just do whatever you can, and remember that

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even small steps may have a greater impact on the world than you’d ever imagine. 6

Inside the house In the kitchen What to eat? The connection between Zero Waste and veganism Anna Grischenko, Kateryna Oliinyk What are your associations when you think of Zero Waste? The reduction of plastic usage, bamboo toothbrushes, cotton bags and many other things are tightly connected in our minds to a no-waste lifestyle, but only a small number of people think about food issues, and especially about animal agriculture.

How does it work? And why are veganism and a Zero Waste lifestyle inseparable?

The waste problem in the meat industry is dire. Statistics say that animal products require far more resources than those needed for a plant-based

6 https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/2016/3/8/z https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47027792 https://www.intelligentliving.co/three-recycling-myths

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diet. Humans keep a lot of animals, and they need to be fed. 83% of the earth’s farmland is used for livestock — as pasture, and to farm fodder crops. That is 26% of the earth’s total land area. If we include the water used for the plants required, meat and dairy production accounts for 27% of global freshwater consumption. And only a fraction of the nutrients from fodder crops end up in meat. For example, cows convert only about 4% of the proteins and 3% of the calories of the plants we feed them into beef. More than 97% of the calories are lost to us. To create 1 kg of steak, a cow needs to eat up to 25 kg of grain, and uses up to 15 000 l of water.

Animal products are guzzling up tons of food, but they only make up 18% of the calories humans eat. According to projections, we could nourish an additional 3.5 billion people if we only ate the food we feed to animals. Currently, there are about 810 million people in hunger. This is not a rational way to use our resources. Food resources are not infinite, and with population increases, we will not be able to feed everyone if we do not change our food habits.

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We can also not ignore the huge impact of animal agriculture on ecology. 51% of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by meat production. To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately 18 times less land, 10 times less water, 9 times less fuel, 12 times less fertilizer and 10 times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef. This all ties in to global warming, a topic which is closely connected to the importance of a Zero Waste lifestyle.

Therefore, looking at Zero Waste and veganism as lifestyles, there are a lot of similarities, as the basic idea behind both revolves around improving our environment. Animal agriculture requires plenty of resources, which are rapidly running out. Consequently, a plant-based diet is far more sustainable and eco-friendly. The concept of Zero Waste is incomplete without veganism.

Research says that our planet will be irreversibly damaged within 12 years, and that is why we must act now. 7

Food waste at home Anna Tsukanova, Anna Ćaleta

We live in a world where we don’t need to go hunting or gathering. Sometimes it might seem that our food appears on our plates by magic. But it isn’t so. We spend resources such as water, land, time and money in order to grow our

7 Resources: Humans raise a lot of animals for food: www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QA That’s 26% of earth's total land area: www.science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987 Livestock accounts for 27% of global freshwater consumption: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22331890 Only a fraction of the nutrients from fodder end up in the meat: www.iopscience.iop.org/ article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/10/105002 1 kg of steak needs up to 25 kgof grain and 15 000 l of water: www.waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/Report48-WaterFootprint-AnimalProducts-Vol1_1.pdf Meat just makes up 18% of the calories humans eat: www.science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987 We could nourish an additional 3.5 billion people: www.iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034015 How many people are hungry in the world: www.worldhunger.org/hunger-quiz/how-many-people-are-hungry-inthe-world/ 51% of all greenhouse gas emissions are created by the meat industry: www.independent.co.uk/environment/ climate-change/study-claims-meat-creates-half-of-all-greenhouse-gases-1812909.html Production of beans and beef: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25374332 12 years until the climate changes: www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-notexceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report

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food, feed our livestock and produce the goods that we see on the shelves of supermarkets.

Have you noticed how much food you throw away because you made too much, or because it was left to go bad in your refrigerator? The following tips will not only help you to throw out less and save money, but also contribute to healthier eating habits.

1. Self-reflection and planning First of all, get to know yourself and your preferences. Sometimes we buy food that we don’t even like very much, just because we are in the habit of buying it, and then we throw it away when we realize that we don’t actually want to eat it. A more useful method would be to plan your menu ahead – and to create a shopping list and follow it. This could even help you to reduce your cravings for sugar or junk food, and stop you from eating too much, and will save you from buying useless items that might break your budget.

2. Buy in bulk Buy in bulk and plan the exact amount of what you need. That way you won’t end up throwing away mouldy cheese (when you remember for sure that you didn’t buy brie!).

3. Buy local and seasonal It’s much better to buy local seasonal products. They are usually cheaper, they don’t have so many preservatives and they have made a shorter journey from the field to your plate, so your carbon footprint is smaller. Also by doing this, you are supporting your local farming community. An added side-effect is that you will automatically buy fewer processed foods, which contain a lot of sugar and ingredients that you should be trying to avoid.

4. Be aware of the false friend: the expiration date A lot of supermarkets offer discounts (from 30 to up to 70% off) on products that are going to expire soon. In most cases, these products are not damaged – but the day that the manufacturer has given as the expiration date is approaching, so supermarkets have to try and sell them as soon as possible.

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The companies whose products are on the shelves of stores try to protect themselves from incidents with buyers using these dates. “Best by” or “best before” dates on food packaging mean that the product is guaranteed to have the best quality and flavour before that date, but after the date, the food is perfectly safe to eat. You can find expiration dates on snacks, juices, etc.

“Use by” or “use before” only marks the last date recommended for the use of the product, and may be found on products that tend to spoil fast (e.g. milk and meat products).

5. Supermarket alternatives: dumpster diving and foodsharing Despite such discounts on expiring food, some supermarkets have leftovers that they can’t sell, so they throw away good food that can be still consumed fresh or cooked. They put all of this in big bins outside. Some people go “dumpster diving” in these bins. It might sound crazy or stupid to you at first, but it can be a lot of fun. You just arrive in the evening after the supermarket is closed, and take a look inside the bin. You might find fresh fruit to make jam, or tomatoes for sauces. A lot of people in the world can’t afford fresh food, and many are starving, while we throw away the food these people need. There are initiatives based on this where people cook tasty meals from what they’ve found in dumpsters and give these to the poor or homeless. This method can help save your budget, reduce the amount of waste we throw away and even help you to help others. (Link on dumpster diving map).

But there are also slightly more legal alternatives such as food-sharing initiatives, where supermarkets give away food that would otherwise be dumped on a regular basis. They generally don’t want this to be known, so it happens semi-anonymously, with the people who collect the food having to keep quiet about its source. Check out whether your city already has such an initiative that you can join. You can save a lot of money while performing a service to society and the environment!

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Practical advice for fresh produce Anna Ćaleta

Storing food It is important to know how to store your food properly once you have bought it, to prevent it from spoiling.

Potatoes: keep them in a dry, dark and airy place. It’s best to put them in a wooden crate. Store an apple* near potatoes so they don’t sprout as quickly. *Apples produce a gas called ethylene. It acts as a plant hormone that speeds up the ripening process and inhibits sprout growth during treatment.

Garlic and onions: keep these in a dry and airy place with no sudden changes of temperature.

Herbs and leafy vegetables: fill a jar, glass or tin with water and keep them in this (as you would flowers). Store in the fridge.

Salad, asparagus, carrots: keep in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp cloth.

Bread: wrap in linen cloth, doubled.

Eat everything you’ve bought Use an “eat me first” box in the refrigerator to keep an eye on all the food that needs to be eaten soon. This is especially useful in a household of several people, so you don’t end up with two open milk bottles, and it gives you a special place for that half a cucumber that you’re saving for later.

Broccoli stems, carrot tops, beet leaves, potato peels, onion peels ... most people throw them away. Did you know that you can peel a broccoli stem and munch it raw? It tastes like kohlrabi. If you prefer it cooked, any kind of stew or soup will do.

Carrot tops are amazing for making pesto!

You can cook beet leaves the same way as spinach. Have you ever fried potato peels?

For some recipes, you don’t even need to

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peel the potatoes.

Not a big fan of the idea of eating all of these? Great, there is another option: you can cook a vegetable stock. Simply put all of your food scraps in a pot, add water until everything floats, and simmer for at least half an hour. Strain and keep it in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer for months. See detailed tips on: Food Waste Feast.

There are also recipes that ask for a banana peel! However, make sure that you use peels safe for consumption.

“Can’t eat it all” If you have already cooked the food, keep it for the next meal as leftovers.

Imagine that you’ve cooked pasta with tomato sauce. If you have cooked too much sauce, save it in the freezer for later, use it tomorrow with rice, put it in a stew to thicken it … On the other hand, if you’ve cooked too much pasta, make baked pasta for the next meal. If you’ve cooked too much of both and don’t want to eat the same meal twice in a row, invite some friends over, surprise your neighbour or give it to a homeless person.

If you find yourself with a food item that is yet to be cooked and is about to spoil, check out this page: Food Waste Feast. Here you can enter the name of the food you need to use up, and search for recipes.

You can also cook compote, marmalade or sauces, or freeze certain foods (for example, sliced bread, blanched vegetables).

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Regrowing Petya Ivanova You don’t need seeds to start growing your own vegetables. You can use scraps of vegetables you’d normally discard to regrow a whole new plant. This is a fun project to get all the family involved, and is a brilliant way to teach kids about sustainability. 8 You don’t need a large outdoor space or any tools. A lot can be done even without soil! All you need are some jars, water, and for some foods, a space outdoors to plant them eventually. It is really easy – and a handy idea if you can’t get your hands on any seeds right now. It may take some trial and error to get it right, but it is definitely an easy introduction to gardening.

What exactly can be regrown?

Carrots, onions and lettuce can all be regrown from the tiniest of scraps. So can leeks, beets, fresh herbs, green onions, ginger, garlic, squash and so much more. The possibilities are almost endless.

When looking to see if you can regrow a specific fruit or veggie, you have to look for a point that can grow into stems, branches and eventually, new leaves or flowers.

Transform your food scraps!

Here are easy opportunities to start regrowing food from home: NOTE: Use organic fruits and vegetables for the best results.

Green onions, lemongrass, leeks, fennel, coriander, basil, mint and spring onions: •

Place the root ends in water, but don’t fully submerge the veg/herb.

•

Change the water daily.

•

In 1 - 2 weeks, growth begins.

8 www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/how-to-regrow-food-from-scraps www.irishcountrymagazine.ie/zero-waste-grow-your-own-veg-from-scraps-youd-normally-throw-away

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•

Place roots in soil, and water when the topsoil is dry.

•

Harvest the greens when full, then repeat the process.

•

Cut off what you need without uprooting the plant.

Celery, cabbage, romaine lettuce and bok choy: •

Submerge the roots, leaving the tops above the water line.

•

Spray with water a couple of times a week, replacing the water every few days.

•

Leaves will sprout in about a week.

•

Plant the cutting with only the leaves above the soil.

•

Harvest when fully grown, about 5 months.

Onion: •

Place the root end in soil, and lightly cover it.

•

Keep the soil moist.

•

Carefully separate the new onions, leaving the roots attached, and plant them out.

•

Occasionally, cut the leaves down to promote full growth.

•

It can take up to 5 months for plants to mature enough for harvest.

Ginger: •

Soak the chunk of ginger overnight in water.

•

Submerge in moist soil.

•

Keep watering until shoots appear.

•

Ready to harvest in a year.

•

Simply remove the entire plant, use what you need and repeat.

Garlic: •

The larger the clove, the larger the bulb that will grow from it.

•

Sit the plant on a sunny window sill, keeping the soil moist and the clove lightly covered.

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•

The bulbs will be ready for harvest in early summer when the bottom third of the leaves have yellowed

Mushrooms: •

Use a mixture of compost and soil in a pot.

•

Plant the mushroom stalk in the soil with only the surface of it exposed.

•

If the cutting takes, new growth happens quickly. Harvest and repeat.

Pineapples: •

Don’t live in the tropics? That need not necessarily be a problem, because you can bring the tropics to you.

•

Cut the top off of the pineapple and insert a few toothpicks to hold it above a container filled with water.

•

Keep the container in direct sunlight.

•

If it is warm outside, sit it on the porch or deck during the day, and bring it in at night.

•

Change the water every other day or so, and keep the container filled so that it reaches just above the base of the pineapple.

•

You will notice roots in about a week or two and, once they are formed, you can transfer the plant into some potting soil.

•

If you live in a cooler area (aka not-the-tropics), it is best to grow your pineapple indoors.

In the bathroom Vlada Melnychuk The bathroom seems like a small part of our living space, but you have probably never realised that it is the second-most used place in the house, after the kitchen – and in most households it is full of waste. We use a lot of hygiene products to take care of ourselves. Sadly, almost all of these products are packed in plastic. We also buy plenty of unnecessary products, because of

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the influence of advertising. This means that there are many possibilities to choose from in creating a Zero Waste bathroom.

There are a few main questions that you have to ask yourself in order to start changing your space: 1. How often do I use it? Do I really need it?

2. Is it safe for my health?

3. Can I use another thing for the same purpose?

We often keep goods that we don’t really need. Some of these are dangerous for our health. If you see that a product is past its sell-by date, don’t use it, as expired products are great places for bacteria growth. It is also very important to check the composition of products, because some ingredients can be harmful.

According to the David Suzuki Foundation’s “Dirty Dozen,” this is a list of the most dangerous chemicals that are found in hygien products: 1. BHA (butylared hydroxytoluene)

hydroxyanisole,

E320)

and

BHT

(butylated

2. Coal tar dyes 3. DEA-related ingredients 4. Dibutyl phthalate 5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives 6. Parabens 7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance) 8. PEG compounds 9. Petrolatum 10. Siloxanes 11. Sodium laureth sulfate 12. Triclosan.

Once you clean out the unnecessary stuff from your bathroom, you will have more space for natural products.

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These are some products that you can easily replace: •

Floss → silk floss.

•

Razor → razor made of stainless steel. It can be recycled once it is completely used. You can also keep the main part of the razor and change the upper part (blade) when needed.

•

Hair brush → wooden hair brush.

•

Toilet paper → toilet paper that is not packed in plastic.

•

Toothbrush → wooden toothbrush. The best option is a bamboo toothbrush.

•

Washcloth or sponges → you can make these yourself from fabric, and wash them when you need to.

•

Cotton buds → save the plastic stick from a used cotton bud or find a wooden one, and buy a pack of organic cotton and make cotton buds.

This way you don’t have to throw plastic sticks away all the time.

•

Makeup remover pads → buy sustainable, washable ones that you can use several times.

The story of a toothbrush: Every day, we brush our teeth. Some people do this several times per day. Did you know that it takes 200 - 500 years for a plastic toothbrush to decompose? During the process, dangerous elements are released and enter the ground.

Eventually, the toothbrush decomposes into microplastics that end up in the water and in our food. These are impossible to retrieve.

There are alternative toothbrushes that you can use. These can be made of any wooden material. The easiest way to replace your regular toothbrush is to use one that is made of bamboo. This material is amazing, as it grows very fast and does not use a lot of resources. You need to change such a toothbrush every 3 - 5 months. Compare 10 plastic toothbrushes that lie around for a very long time poisoning the ground, with 10 bamboo toothbrushes that return to nature without causing any harm.

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What about makeup?

We don’t usually pay any attention to the packaging we choose when buying cosmetics. But if you take a look around your bathroom, you may notice that almost all the products are packed in plastic. Of course, plastic is easy to carry around, but it is harmful for our bodies.

This does not mean that you have to throw away all the plastic stuff right away. Try to analyze the situation and think which products you could buy in glass or metal containers.

Find out which stores sell such products. Do a little research, visit eco-friendly stores or any shops with handmade products in order to check out the varieties available, and find options that you can use. You will see that some products can be bought unpackaged, so you can buy the exact amount you need.

These are some examples of products that you can buy unpackaged, to take away in your own container: •

Dry shampoo

•

Creams

•

Deodorants → there are deodorant-creams that are free of aluminium and come in a metal container

•

Soaps.

You can also buy one multi-soap that can be used for your face, body and hands. You can even make one, and in order to use more natural cosmetics, you can also make many of these yourself.

Energy We have to think about what kind of energy and materials we use in the bathroom. The main one is water.

In order to save water, we have a few tips: •

While brushing your teeth, do not forget to turn the tap off.

•

While you are shampooing your hair, you do not need running water, so turn the water off, or decrease the flow.

This way you will save not just water, but also money.

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There are also some more general tips for your bathroom: •

Do not throw away containers. If they are medium or small, you can use them to transport items while travelling.

•

You can decorate containers and use them for a different purpose.

•

Buy sponges unpacked.

•

Replace disposable products with reusable and non-plastic ones.

Guide to Zero Waste period products Lea, Sophie, Sophia A menstruating person uses between 5 and 15 000 period pads and tampons in their lifetime, and creates approximately 125 to 150 kg of waste. Period products might not be the first thing one thinks of when switching to a Zero Waste lifestyle. But considering the huge amounts of waste a menstruating human creates in a lifetime, this topic should not be neglected or taboo. When it is considered that every second human menstruates, it becomes evident that the impact on waste management is significant.

“Reusable” might sound unappealing when it comes to period products. But even hygiene-obsessed people don’t need to fear for their health, as they can gain more control over the sanitary quality of their products this way.

Moreover, one’s health benefits from reusable, sustainable and organic solutions, as studies suggest that synthetic materials irritate and dry out the skin. From a long-term perspective, it is also cheaper to focus on reusable methods.

The website Period Nirana offers a period products waste calculator, telling you how much you can save in waste and money by switching to reusable period products.

Switching to organic period products not only contributes to a Zero Waste lifestyle, but ultimately results in greater empowerment, as well as education.

Choosing the period product that is best for you is a very personal process, and requires experimentation and practice. In the end, it is all about feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin, especially at those times when it

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feels like the whole world is against you, and chocolate seems to be your best companion.

The problem with conventional period products in a nutshell Material: •

The excessive plastic packaging of single-use products, as well as the polyethylene plastic in sanitary pads, contribute to the global plastic problem and are extremely harmful to the environment.

•

The non-organic cotton that is most commonly used is full of pesticides, and grown in monoculture.

•

Conventional products are composed of synthetic layers that can irritate the skin.

•

Toxic chemicals such as dioxin, chlorine and rayon involved in the manufacturing process are similarly good for neither the environment nor human bodies.

Waste management: •

Conventional tampons and pads are disposable items and are not biodegradable.

•

Due to the fact that half of the world’s population are menstruating people, the amount of waste created by period products is huge.

•

Tampons and sanitary pads are said to be the fifth-most common type of waste washed ashore on beaches. If not beaches, they end up in landfills, where the containing chemicals enter the groundwater and contribute massively to our global waste problem.

Go on this link to read more about the problems of conventional period products: How tampons and pads became unsustainable and filled with plastic.

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Alternative period products The taboo around the topic of menstruation resulted in a lack of innovation for over 80 years. Luckily, recent years have seen a lot of development and new inventions, which we will happily introduce you to.

Organic tampons/compostable film •

There are biodegradable tampons and pads that are certified and made from organic cotton. The tampons are bleached using chlorinefree bleach, are vegan and have a compostable film. The pads are also vegan, and cruelty-free. For example, in Germany you can find such products made by the following brand: Fairstainable bluten - einhorn

•

The tampons by the Female Company in Germany are produced CO2neutrally and are plastic-free.

Some brands that offer organic tampon options: •

The Female Company

•

Fairstainable bluten - Einhorn

Sustainable cloth pads Switching to organic period products can eliminate discomfort and make your period much more manageable. Washable and reusable cloth pads, which you can secure to your underwear with buttons, are faithful companions, letting you live your life as on any other day of the month. These sustainable cloth pads are made mostly out of cotton, a breathable fabric that allows for air flow, creates a difficult environment for bacteria to grow and prevents odour and itchiness caused by synthetic material, and hence present a soft and comfortable alternative to disposable pads. The pads are a game-changer for periods, as they are available in beautiful patterns, designs and shapes for all sizes, dependent on what you feel most comfortable with and what reflects you best. Additionally, you can choose between regular or heavy

39

absorbency pads with multiple cotton layers and waterproof base layers, depending on your menstrual flow.

While sustainable cloth pads might seem expensive at first, once you have invested in them they last for several years, as you can wash and reuse them several hundred times. This low-maintenance alternative to conventional period pads is no foreign invention but can be traced back to previous generations, and provides a convenient way of keeping hazardous plastic chemicals away from your skin, while simultaneously helping the earth in every way possible.

Brands that offer a variety of shapes and colours: •

Cyclo

•

Glad Rags

•

Aisle

•

LuLand Shop

Menstrual cup When it comes to forgetting about being on your period, the menstrual cup might be the most popular reusable period product.

Although the name might suggest it, we are not talking about a conventional cup you would drink your coffee from, but rather a smaller bell-shaped cup made out of soft silicon for medical use, with the purpose of collecting your menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it (hence the term ‘cup’). It eliminates irritation and dryness, and ensures that the natural pH-balance is kept intact as it does not absorb natural and necessary vaginal secretions.

Anyone who has already used tampons will probably not have difficulties using a cup after a short period of practice, as it is inserted in a similar way, and there are different sizes of cups depending on the size and shape of your vagina.

Nevertheless, it is completely natural to have initial reservations, which is why this instructional video might

40

give you some confidence.

When inserted correctly, the cup sits below the cervix in the vaginal canal, creating a vacuum that keeps menstrual blood from coming into contact with air, making it ultra-hygienic and antibacterial. Another significant advantage is that a menstrual cup can contain 3 - 5 times as much blood as a regular tampon, giving you the freedom to do whatever you want to, wherever you want to – whether you feel like sleeping all day, swimming across the Atlantic ocean or dancing all night in the middle of the Sahara Desert – without period interruptions. The last and probably most convincing advantage of the menstrual cup is its environmentally friendly value. One menstrual cup replaces about 1 600 tampons and pads, does not release any harmful chemicals, is reusable for up to 5 years and hence presents a budget friendly long-term alternative to conventional period products that saves tons of waste from landfill.

And here are some brands that can help you make the switch: •

OrganiCup

•

Menstrual Cup

•

Mooncup

•

Cyclo

Period pants Finally there are period pants, probably the newest development in the field. These are normal-looking underpants with the superpower to absorb menstrual blood or other bodily fluids, for people who have to deal with incontinence (so still potentially useful after menopause). The pants contain 2 - 3 layers to prevent humidity, bacteria and bad smells, as well as leaking.

The manufacturing companies (mostly female-led!) seek to make them as thin as possible, and testimonials suggest that they don’t feel much different to ordinary underwear. Depending on the type, they can cover up to five tampons, and they come in all kinds of shape and materials.

The sustainable part about them is that they are, like normal underwear,

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washable, and reusable for at least 2 years. Depending on the product, the user just has to rinse the pants at the end of the day and throw them into the washing machine (for extra eco-friendliness, using a washing bag to prevent any synthetics from entering the water system). And even when their effectiveness fades after a few years, they can still be worn as normal underwear! Like many sustainable alternatives, the initial costs are higher than buying single-use sanitary pads, starting at 30€ and going up to 60€ per pair. But calculated over time, they have money-saving benefits, not to mention the health and comfort aspects. Moreover, most brands are fair and sustainable, so you don’t have to worry about the production methods.

Here are some brands: •

Kora Mikino

•

Ooia

•

Modibodi

•

Thinx

•

Pourprées

•

WUKA

Don’t forget to inform yourself via the respective websites of the correct washing procedure, and the expectations you can have!

Free bleeding The utmost sustainable solution would probably be “free bleeding”, a technique requiring lots of practice and knowledge about one’s own body.

When performed successfully, the person feels when it is time to go to the toilet, and does not need any period products. 9

9 More to read: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-tampons-pads-became-unsustainable-story-of-plastic www.digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/the-ecological-impact-of-feminine-hygiene-products/ www.organicup.com/environmental-reasons-to-switch www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/zero-waste-periods www.utopia.de/ratgeber/menstruationsschwamm-so-wird-er-angewendet-und-gereinigt www.menstruationstasse.com www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cup#advantages www.moodyv.com/shop www.8list.ph/reusable-cloth-pads/#read-more www.menstrualcupreviews.net/reusable-menstrual-cloth-pads

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In your closet Sophie, Sophia, Lea Yes, your wardrobe is also a place for suspicion. Going completely Zero Waste in clothing terms was probably only possible for Adam and Eve, but we too can make certain adjustments if we want to take greater care of our environment as well as other humans when it comes to our clothes.

The fashion industry produces a good deal of waste, and contributes to water shortages, environmental pollution, resource scarity, climate change, modern slavery and other human rights violations. It is the second largest polluter in the world (after the oil industry – which is also a contributor in some very common fashion fabrics). From producing the materials to processing the fabric to sewing it together to ending up in a shop and ultimately with the consumer, a piece of clothing travels the whole world and leaves a trail of harmful and exploitative practices.

Did you know?

•

0.6% of the price of an ordinary t-shirt actually ends up with the person who sews it.

•

1% of clothes can be recycled into new clothes; the other 99% ends up in incinerators or landfills.

•

4: the number of times a piece of clothing is worn, on average, before being thrown out.

•

24 collections are launched by the brand Zara in 1 year (reminder: 1 year = 12 months).

•

7 000 l of water are needed to produce just one pair of jeans (and another 20 000 l to grow the cotton).

•

20 000 different chemicals are used in the textile industry – 30% of worldwide chemical use.

•

11 million tons of textile waste: the amount that the USA alone creates each year.

•

27 million workers (estimated number) suffer from work-related diseases due to poor working conditions in the textile sector each year.

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All this (and more) characterizes the “fast fashion” industry. In opposition, a “slow fashion” industry is emerging, in an attempt to reduce fashion’s environmental effects, make the production process more humane and use less to create less waste. The two easiest approaches if you want to make your wardrobe more sustainable and “go slow” are Second-Hand and Fair Fashion.

DISCLAIMER: Don’t throw away your current clothes in order to replace them with more environmentally and human-friendly products – this is the worst thing you could do. No consumption is still better than sustainable consumption of clothes. Rather replace them piece by piece, and keep in mind the 5 R’s. In this case, that means:

1.

Refuse: don’t buy something just because it sparkles (this is a very

important Zero Waste mindset you can read more about in the chapter “Inside your mind”)

2.

Reduce: learn to live with less – maybe the “capsule wardrobe” concept is something for you?

3.

Reuse: here is the first option: second-hand shopping! Or have you ever thought about taking the clothes of your older siblings, parents or even grandparents voluntarily?

4.

Recycle: try to repair your clothes first before purchasing new ones.

Your local tailor will be happy to have a customer (yes, times are hard in this business). Maybe change your wedding gown into a beautiful top and skirt, take in your suits because you’ve changed your eating habits (local and seasonal of course) and need a smaller size, or just repair a perfectly fine pair of jeans that are showing the first signs of a small hole near the pocket

5.

Rot: ok, well, maybe this is not applicable if you’re not Lady Gaga (the vegetarian version of course).

An ode to Second-Hand Whether you are going to a flea market, digging through piles of clothes; taking in the hypnotizing smell of a cozy vintage store; playing dress-up with your friends in your favorite thrift shop; or spending the whole night in digital second-hand heaven, till you finally find that one pair of shoes that wins over your heart – there is nothing quite like good old thrifting therapy. Of course, second-hand shopping involves luck and a lot of patience, but the thrill of finding a one-of-a-kind piece and giving a new life to clothing that was

44

previously owned by another individual isn’t comparable to any fast-fashion shopping experience.

Thrifting is a revolution, a rejection of the throw-away fashion culture of our times and a constant self-reinvention, without the creation of waste.

Shopping second-hand reduces the demand for new clothing production, and prevents perfectly good clothes from ending up in landfills. It is not just a trendy alternative, but for many people an economic necessity. But while some people might thrift to be trendy, it is better than being trendy with fast fashion, as it is far less damaging for the planet.

Thrifting is the easiest and most fun way of shopping with intention. You can search for your favourite brands, prints, patterns or colours, and find treasures you would never have dreamed of. And the best part about it? You will not only reduce enormous amounts of fashion waste but also help out your purse, as second-hand shopping is easier not just on the environment but also on the wallet.

So, whether you are in desperate need of a new pair of jeans, or want to copy your mom’s style from the 70s.

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Second-hand platforms Some of our favorite digital second-hand platforms to score lovely items or free yourself of unwanted stuff that will make someone else’s day: •

Depop

•

Vinted

•

Ebay

•

Thred Up

•

Momoxfashion

Clothes switching Another way to live the second-hand trend involves the fun of a clothesswitching party, which you can host with your friends. Everyone can bring their clothes to switch, and get to enjoy a good time while doing something good for the environment!

Introduction to Fair Fashion Fair Fashion can be a double-edged sword, as these companies are fully rooted in and living off our consumeristic, neoliberal behaviour. They are dependent on selling their products, but at the same time they lobby for less and more conscious purchase decisions. When it comes to environmental and social issues, Fair Fashion brands are sensitive to the planet and the people on it. So, when repairing would make a problem worse, and even the deepest digging

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doesn’t bring up the much-needed new jacket or backpack, you can make a conscious and sustainable choice by turning to fair fashion brands.

Searching for sustainable fashion brands also means discovering a growing number of small, independent, unique labels that are customer-friendly and driven by motivated people with high moral standards and sympathetic idealism.

Here is a starting list of fair and transparent brands available worldwide: STREETWEAR

OUTDOOR AND ACTIVE WEAR

WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR AND LOUNGEWEAR

SHOES

BAGS

ACCESSORIES AND JEWELLERY

Armedangels People Tree Dedicated Bleed Thinking MU Alternative Apparel Kings of Indigo Nudie Jeans Twothirds Clara Himmel Honest clothing Recolution Dariadeh Lucy & Yak Living Crafts Jane n June The Slow Label Colourful standard Lana organic Everlane Degree clothing Knowledge Cotton Apparel Thought Love and Confuse Langerchen A-dam Habibiyouknow Melawear

Bleed Patagonia Vaude Booden Lilja the Label Pura clothing

Organic basics The Nude Label Underprotection Coco Malou Ehrlich Textil Aikyou Hara The Label Dawn Denim Nette Rose Calida Anekdot SMPL

Matt & Nat Veja Saye Genesis Good guys don’t wear leather Ten points Miret sneakers

Ethnotek Matt & Nat Manbefair Walk with me O my Bag Pikfine

Taj Amsterdam Holy Recycle Stilnest A beautiful story Saytimewatch

Many outdoor brands are actually quite conscious about their impact on the planet and have collections or products with an official seal (e.g.

Fair Wear Foundation)

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Short guide to quality labels Official seals are a topic in themselves, and in the jungle of seals out there it is hard to keep track. Here you can find the most important seals of approval to look for when it comes to the textile industry. But keep in mind that getting an official label requires a lot of money, and not every brand – especially the smaller ones – can afford it. 10 FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION

• Social label • One of the most strict social seals • Advocates for more social and fair conditions along the whole production chain • Criteria are based on the human rights declaration and guidelines of the International Labour Organization

FAIRTRADE COTTON

• Social label • Stands for 100% fairly traded cotton • Restricts the use of chemicals

FAIRTRADE TEXTILE PRODUCTION

• Social label • Extends the Fairtrade Cotton label to the whole supply chain • Stands for better working and living conditions for the people involved, going beyond the criteria demanded by the International Labour Organization

CRADLE TO CRADLE

• Guarantees monitoring of all materials from “cradle to cradle”, supporting the creation of a closed loop • Ultimate goal: no waste and pollution along the whole circle (so far still an idealistic goal) • No direct social or ecological criteria

G.O.T.S.

• Ecological label with some social elements • One of the most strict textile seals • Strict ecological criteria have to be met along the whole production chain • At least 70% of the material must be organic • Incorporates social criteria according to the minimal standards of the International Labour Organization

10 Source: www.utopia.de

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BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE

• Cotton is grown under more social and ecological criteria than conventional cotton • Does not guarantee organic cotton

COTTON MADE IN AFRICA

• Cotton is grown under more social and ecological criteria than conventional cotton • Does not guarantee organic cotton

BLUESIGN PRODUCT

• Ecological label • Very widespread • Focuses mainly on the use of chemicals and environmental pollution

OEKO-TEX

• Ecological label • Very widespread quality seal • Products are nearly free of chemicals

OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN

• Ecological label • Enhanced and more strict version of the OEKO-TEX • Includes the use of chemicals, environmental and quality management as well as safety standards

The secret of making your clothes last longer All this only makes sense if you are taking steps to make your clothes last longer. The largest environmental footprint a piece of clothing has is when it is with you. All the washing and tumble-drying and ironing uses a lot of energy, sets free the chemicals and microplastics and takes away some of the lifespan of your clothing piece.

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So, what to do to make your clothes last longer?

•

Airing instead of washing

•

Washing on reduced temperature instead of boiling your clothes

•

Washing full loads instead of half

•

Air-drying instead of tumble-drying

•

Shaking out before air-drying instead of ironing

•

Repairing instead of buying new

•

Finally: buying high-quality fabric instead of cheap but nondurable.

Living with less: Capsule wardrobe The Zero Waste approach is based on the belief that possessing stuff does not make us sustainably happy, and that breaking away from consumeristic emotion will make us happier. The capsule wardrobe is an excellent concept for trying out “possessing less” with a clear plan.

You can find numerous guides on how to start your capsule wardrobe, colour schemes and tips for the process on the internet. The basic idea is that you reduce your wardrobe to a maximum of 30 - 40 pieces that can all be combined.

This number, the kinds of pieces you include in it (underwear?) and whether you have a seasonal or a year-round capsule wardrobe is totally up to you, and varies from guide to guide. It all boils down to the idea of possessing only the essential stuff. And then it is all about combining what you have in different ways, to get the most out of it. This is the challenge when constructing your own personal capsule wardrobe, and the point where colour schemes and forethought can help you a lot.

The idea is that you will only buy something new when you need a replacement for an old or broken piece of clothing. This breaks the vicious cycle of consumption and its inherent reward system. But the biggest advantage is that you are not standing in front of an overflowing closet every morning without a clue what to wear. The reduction makes the choice easier, and gives your brain space to ponder something

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more important. Moreover, you will only own clothes you really love, because there is simply no space to keep things you’re moody and sceptical about.

Some basic starting tips you’ll find in every guide: •

Don’t pressure yourself to a specific number, but try to aim for less as well as you can.

•

You can do a trial run with picking 7–10 pieces you’ll wear for the next week.

•

Start with clearing out your closet – try making a list at the beginning (without looking in your closet) of pieces you love and definitely want to keep.

•

Establish a personal colour scheme before or during the process (Pinterest or other social media might be of help).

•

Make a plan as to how many jeans, t-shirts, sweaters etc. you need.

•

Give the clothes you have sorted out to friends or family (maybe organise a clothes switching party – but don’t get heaps of new stuff!).

•

Don’t go on a shopping trip immediately to fill your closet up again: instead make lists of what you really need, and take your time scanning the market.

•

Have fun at it

Personalize your clothes Instead of throwing out four of your five white t-shirts in the process of reducing, you can use some of your clothes to make something new and uniquely personal. One amazing and fun way to get a new, one-of-a-kind piece is batik or tie-dyeing. 11

11 Sources: www.truecostmovie.com/learn-more/environmental-impact www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/633143/EPRS_BRI(2019)633143_EN.pdf www.edgexpo.com/fashion-industry-waste-statistic/ www.commonobjective.co

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Learn more about fair clothing Movies and documentaries •

Andrew Morgan – The True Cost

•

Mark Angelo – River Blue

•

Alex James – Slowing Down Fast Fashion

•

Meghna Gupta – Unravel

Have a look at more suggestions for movies and documentaries at the end of the toolkit.

Initiatives •

Commonobjective: Sustainable Fashion

•

Fashion United

•

Fair Fashion Center

•

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

•

Textile Exchange

•

Ethical Fashion Initiative

•

Fair Fashion Solidarity

•

UN Fashion Alliance

Instagram profiles •

Creativematterzfund

•

Fashionchangers (german)

•

Dariadaria

•

Nanda_schwarz

Interesting links •

Here is a carbon calculator to understand how your fashion habits contribute to climate change: Thredup

•

An explanation about continuing slavery, and a survey to calculate how many modern slaves have been working for you: Slavery Footprint

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•

The “State of Fashion 2021” report, which also elaborates on the impact of COVID

Cleaning DIY Berni Pakot, Anna Caleta Cleaning with Zero Waste principles is easy, cheap and not harmful for the environment. It uses only a few basic ingredients: baking soda, white vinegar, soap and essential oils. You can also make rags and scrubbers!

DIY dust rags, washcloths and scrubbers The first rule of the 5 Rs is to Refuse – refuse to buy cleaning cloths when you can make them at home (Reuse)! It’s as easy as cutting up worn-out clothing (T-shirts, PJs, blouses), bedsheets, towels – honestly any textile could work that you’d otherwise throw away. It could be cotton, linen, hemp or silk.

You can use them for drying the dishes and cleaning all kinds of surfaces – floors, windows, countertops ...

If you are feeling fancy and have a sewing machine, you can make them more durable by seaming the edges so they don’t fray.

If you have basic crochet or knitting skills, you can make a scrubber using jute or hemp rope using basic stitches. It is up to you whether you make it round or rectangular.

They are perfect for scrubbing pots and pans!

When dirty, toss them in the washing machine or dishwasher.12

12 www.themakeyourownzone.com/homemade-cleaning-cloths www.condoblues.com/2021/01/diy-plastic-free-pot-scrubber.html?m=0

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All-purpose cleaner •

One part white vinegar

•

One part water

•

Lemon rind

•

Rosemary sprigs

Combine the above ingredients, pour into a spray bottle, shake and then let infuse for a week before using. You can use the solution to remove hard water stains, clean trash cans, wipe away wall smudges and much more. Plus, the fruit acid adds extra cleaning properties, perfect for stubborn stains.

Wet wipes Now you have your washcloths and cleaner, let’s make wet wipes! There are two ways to do this: a. Roll your washcloths into a glass jar and soak with cleaner. Keep handy! b. Put cleaner in a spray bottle, spray the surface you want to clean and wipe with a dry washcloth.

These are perfect for cleaning spill-ups, countertops, dust and much more.

If you’d like to use wet wipes for your baby or child, simply take washcloths with you and a bottle of water.

For disinfecting surfaces, you can use 70% rubbing alcohol instead of the multipurpose cleaner.

Liquid dish soap 13 • 25 - 30 g palm-oil free castile bar soap •

2 tsp baking soda

•

600 ml water

• 3 drops essential oil

of

your

favorite

13 www.wastelandrebel.com/en/how-to-make-zero-waste-liquid-dish-soap-with-non-toxic-ingredients

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•

1 soap dispenser, and maybe a jar for the surplus

Note that you can use a soap bar and kitchen brush for washing dishes.

Cleaning the microwave In a microwave-safe bowl, mix 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. You can also add citrus peels. Place the bowl inside the microwave, turn on for 5 minutes and leave for 2 more. Take a cotton cloth and wipe. Your microwave will be smell-free shortly.

Cleaning the dishwasher Combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 1 tbsp white vinegar, and scrub lime deposit inside the dishwasher.

Toilet bombs •

1/2 cup baking soda

•

1/2 cup citric acid

•

Essential oil, water

•

5 drops rosemary essential oil

•

5 drops tea tree essential oil

•

5 drops lemon essential oil

•

1 spray of water

Follow this link to get more detailed instructions.

Cleaning clothes You can make laundry detergent using plants that you pick from nature!

Sweet chestnut and English ivy are widespread in the Danube region, and full of saponins – ingredients that are responsible for cleaning. You can ask the elderly what they use when there are no store-bought detergents. Indian nuts (or soap nuts) are very popular nowadays, but keep in mind that they are exported, often in single-use packaging, and because of this they have a negative impact on the environment. Always try to use local resources.

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English ivy detergent •

100 g English ivy leaves, cut

•

1 l boiling water

•

1 tbsp baking soda

Combine all the ingredients and let the mixture cool completely. Strain it, store it in a glass bottle and keep it in a dark cold place. Use 2 dl per wash.

Sweet chestnut detergent Peel all hard husks of 8 - 10 sweet chestnuts and cut them into smaller pieces.

Place them in a glass jar (7 dl) and pour boiling water over them. Leave overnight and strain. This amount is for a single wash.

TIP: If washing whites, peel off all the brown husk of the chestnut to prevent staining your laundry.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These plants contain saponins, which have caused poisoning in cattle, dogs, sheep and humans when ingested. Chemical compounds in English ivy can also cause severe contact dermatitis in sensitive humans. Handle these plants with caution, and keep away from pets and children to avoid ingestion!

Castile detergent If you are not into long walks in nature, you can make detergent using a castile soap bar and washing soda.

For liquid detergent combine 1/4 cup grated Castile soap and 400 ml of water.

Heat on the stove until dissolved. Add 1/8 cup washing soda, and heat until it thickens. Place in a container. Add 2.1 l warm water and 5 - 6 drops of essential oil of choice. Let it set overnight. Use half a cup per wash.

For laundry powder, combine 1 bar grated Castile soap with 2 cups washing soda. Use 1 - 2 tbsp per wash.

NOTE: Washing soda is not the same as baking soda. You can buy it in some drug stores, or you can make it yourself! For that you’ll need 2 cups of baking soda: place it in an oven dish and leave it in a preheated oven (240°C) for 1 hour, giving it a little mix half way through. You’ll notice that baking soda changes its composition – it becomes grainier, a slightly different colour and it doesn’t clump like baking soda. Make sure you clean the oven dish well if you are using it for preparing food.

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DIY softener Use white vinegar and optionally add a few drops of essential oil.

For taps as shiny as new Keep your used lemon halves in the freezer for this! Sprinkle some baking soda on a tap that has hard water stains, and then rub it with a used half lemon. Baking soda reacts with citric acid from the lemon, getting rid of any calc/lime deposits. Baking soda is also slightly abrasive, but not so much that it will damage your tap. After rubbing, compost the lemon, clean the tap with water and shine it dry with a cotton cloth.

If you don’t have a lemon half handy, worry not! An alternative is to rub it with a piece of cotton cloth moistened with some vinegar.

Getting rid of yellow sweat stains These are a nightmare, especially on white shirts. The trick is to wet the stain with water and gently massage with a decent amount of baking soda. Let it sit for at least an hour, and then wash as usual. Not only does this get rid of yellow stains, but the baking soda neutralises smells.

Proposals for more solutions in the house Tara Golubić When starting a Zero Waste journey, one may feel overwhelmed by all those perfect Pinterest photos, Instagram accounts and blogs. Suddenly our Tupperware is not enough, our water bottles must be metal or beautifully designed glass ones, every piece of plastic must be removed from our house, etc. But buying a new item

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just because it looks pretty is missing a core message of the Zero Waste movement. You should always try to use things you already own, or maybe find a new purpose for them, and avoid sending perfectly good items to the landfill.

If you have already started the journey, here are a few ideas for making your home as Zero Waste as possible:

Living room •

Choose your furniture wisely – pick classic shapes and materials that will last, so you don’t have to replace them every few years according to trends. Dark materials are often coloured with toxic dyes, so try to choose natural (cotton, hemp) materials that are light in colour, or not coloured at all. The same goes for decoration: try to avoid cheap plastic, and go for natural decoration (e.g. dried flowers, wood,).

Recycling what you already have and making decorations out of it is also a good idea.

•

Everybody loves a sweetsmelling place. However, scented candles often contain artificial scent and colouring, and evaporating paraffin is not something we should inhale. A good substitute would be oil lamps (essential oils) or making your own water-based scent (lemon, oranges).

•

If possible, avoid carpets and curtains. The materials from which they are made often contain micro-plastic, and they are also a collection place for dust.

•

The living room is often a place for snacking in front of the TV. Some Zero Waste snacks include homemade popcorn, nuts (peanuts, almonds), dried fruit/vegetables, homemade cakes and desserts, homemade hot chocolate (made of cocoa, plant-based milk and honey).

Kitchen •

Replace your liquid dish soap with a

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biodegradable one. There is also the option to buy a hard dish soap in a block so you don’t have to worry about plastic waste after using it.

•

If you use a liquid soap, try to reuse the same container: buy refillable soap.

•

Use a natural-fibre sponge instead of a plastic one. They can be made of coconut fibres, luffa (loofah), linen or cotton. Metal ones are also recyclable but are hard to wash, get dirty very easily and can damage your dishes.

•

Use glass containers to store your food (if possible). Not only are they better for keeping your food fresh (and plastic free), they are also convenient because you can easily see how much food is left. For lunch, use a Tupperware if you have it, or invest in a high-quality metal container which will last you for a lifetime.

•

Upcycle your old textiles for cleaning/drying dishes, and/or make bags for fruit and vegetables.

Bathroom •

Be mindful about washing your clothes.

Try not to wash them too often – not only is the textile damaged, but it also uses a lot of water and energy. Your clothes also like to hang out for a while now and then! Choose biodegradable detergent (it can be bought in paper packaging) or even better – see if there is a refill option nearby. If you feel really motivated, you can make your own out of nuts (chestnut). See the Cleaning DIY chapter for recipes.

• Use soap blocks instead of liquid for washing hands. They are really cheap, last a long time and can be found in any shop.

(Note: keep in mind they can be artificially coloured and scented, so try to avoid these).

• Upcycle your old textiles or towels into bathroom rugs or makeup removal pads.

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•

If possible, buy higher quality machines (they often have energysaving options).

•

Zero Waste cosmetics include: shampoo bars, stainless steel razors, natural oils for hydrating your skin, bamboo brushes for hair and teeth, menstrual cups and other Zero Waste period products, silk tooth floss, biodegradable Q-tips (swabs), etc.

•

See the Cleaning DIY chapter for homemade cleaning product recipes.

Tools for washing your clothes Sophia During washing, small plastic particles can come off from synthetic materials.

Due to their small size, they can’t be retained in sewage treatment plants, and therefore end up in the groundwater and pollute our rivers and oceans.

A solution for this is to use washing bags that filter the microfibres and prevent them from getting into the water.

One example of washing bags can be found under this link.

Upcycling Diana Since upcycling means reusing anything with another purpose than the one initially intended, in order to succeed in this activity, you only need to be creative. You need to find the Zero Waste artist within.

Here we have a few proposals for what you could do in order to make your home or

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work space more welcoming and personal, using materials and objects you already have but didn’t think of interpreting this way.

•

Wardrobe painting/decorating – you can change it entirely just by adding a pattern or a new colour.

•

Bottle cork mosaic – leave the company name as a piece of art, or paint and arrange as desired.

•

Pots from aluminium cans – this one is self-explanatory.

•

Pringles Christmas tree – by tying together the compartments in the shape of a Christmas tree, you also gain storage space.

•

Beer bottles – can also be used for creating a Christmas tree, if green and arranged in an ascending manner.

•

Hangers wrapped in fabric – really simple to do, and you can choose your own pattern for a sense of artistic taste to something as basic as clothes hangers.

•

Family activity

•

Painting light bulbs, or cutting a hole and using them as water pots for plants.

•

Painting and hanging CDs.

•

Pizza boxes without aluminium – these can be cut up and used in various ways.

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•

Sock-filled balls – for massage.

•

Leggings cut to strain cow’s milk for cheese, or boiled soybeans for tofu.

•

Clothes – take them to the tailor for repairing or modifying.

•

Present packaging – using fabric and the Konmari method, you can reduce the amount of material thrown out.

Old clothes or fabric – for handkerchiefs or fabric bags (for example: old shirts for (cotton) bags).

•

Energy efficiency at home Anna

When we talk about Zero Waste, we include in the concept not only a decrease in the amount of rubbish, but also less waste in terms of time, money and energy.

Now, let’s focus on energy. Specifically, on the energy that helps us take a

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hot shower after a hard day, cook popcorn in the microwave and watch new episodes on Netflix.

Nothing is created from emptiness, and the production of most energy requires huge amounts of resources (human, intellectual, natural, etc.).

So, every time you leave the phone charging, another heap of industrial waste enters the ocean (oopsie...).

We aren’t encouraging you to live in huts or trees, although hmm, this is also not a bad idea... We want to give you simple recommendations for how not to waste energy and money, and create a sustainable home space.

The average energy consumption of our households is about 190 kilowatthours per month, and almost two-thirds of this energy is spent on the work of the refrigerator and lighting.

Let’s start the tour of the house in the kitchen. The most voracious consumer is the refrigerator. In order for it not to become an energy black hole or a broken piece of junk, we have two tips: •

Defrost it regularly if it doesn’t have a special No Frost system.

•

Only put cooled dishes in it.

In addition to the refrigerator, pay attention to the electric stove: •

Monitor the kilter

•

Put only suitably sized dishes in it.

•

Cover pots and pans with lids, because this reduces the heat loss by almost 3 times.

Well, that was interesting. Let’s go to the bathroom. But before that, don’t forget to turn off the lights in the kitchen – don’t leave them on in vain.

In the bathroom, if you have a washing machine, we advise you not to overload it, as this increases the consumption of electricity by 10%. And wash your clothes using the average temperature. For example, washing at 30°C spends 35% less energy than at 45°C. By the way, do you like to iron things? You can still iron your clothes, on a low temperature, after turning off the iron.

After finishing in the kitchen and in the bathroom, you can relax. But! Before going to bed, do not forget to unplug the TV, printer, computer, microwave and scanner. This will save up to 200 kW per year.

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In conclusion, I want to support you. I understand that on the scale of a single house, such savings do not seem to be particularly economical. But what if this was not just one house, but a district? A whole city? The result becomes far more noticeable.

Zero Waste on a budget Salome, Linda When we first started to read about Zero Waste, we got the impression it would be very expensive. There were so many new sustainable products to buy, such as a steel water bottle, a bamboo toothbrush, etc. It seemed that not only did a multitude of new products have to be bought, but as they were made from higher-quality materials, they also seemed much more expensive.

Even worse, it seemed that we suddenly would have to buy products where we were just getting things for free before, such as organic cotton nets to substitute for the free veggie and fruit plastic bags in the supermarket.

However, it soon clicked in our minds that exactly the opposite was true. We were approaching a lifestyle that was no longer product-centred. Which was not simply a new kind of hype where you had to buy the newest product to be part of it, where you had to replace your plastic bottle with a glass or steel one. In this article, we want to share 10 life hacks that blew our minds. They are simple and yet impactful, you do not have to spend more money and with some of them, you will even save time. It is super easy and effortless to apply them in your home to not only Zero Waste your life, but also make it more sustainable and enjoyable.

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Foodshop with friends This life hack involves not only with whom you do your grocery shopping, but also how you can avoid unnecessary cost and trash. Buying in bulk is much cheaper, and reduces the amount of packaging material and hence trash. If you live, like we do, in a very small apartment, buying in bulk might be difficult as the necessary storage space is not available. That’s where your friends come into play. You can buy in bulk and divide the goods between you and your friends. This way, you avoid unnecessary trash and solve the storage problem. Additionally, this concept allows for taking turns in doing the grocery shopping, and hence saves everyone time. The “foodshop with friends” life hack can be expanded into “cooking with friends” to save even more time and diversify your diet. The idea is that you and your friends not only take turns shopping, but also in cooking for each other. This way, everyone in the group gets fresh, tasty and healthy meals, but does not have to cook every day.

Separating waste To be honest, we totally underestimated the negative effects of not separating organic waste from other trash. We simply and naively thought “well, organic waste is biodegradable; consequently, I can put it anywhere, it will just be a waste of its potential as fertilizer”. But no! Organic waste mixed with other trash actually dirties materials that can then no longer be recycled. Even mixing organics with plastic that cannot be recycled has negative impact, as the organic waste turns liquid with time, leeches harmful substances from the plastic and washes them into the groundwater. Hence separating your trash, and especially separating organic and non-organic waste, is extremely easy and impactful. Especially if you live in a country where you have a separate bin for organic waste, you can effortlessly make a change with this life hack.

Paper bin liners Avoiding plastic is one of the maxims of Zero Waste living. There are tons of

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possibilities to substitute a plastic bin liner, for example, by simply lining the bin with newspaper. Using old newspapers means repurposing something already in existence, and no new plastic is consumed. If you don’t receive free community newspapers, you can ask friends and family, neighbours, workplaces or cafés. As the newspaper doesn’t have handles, you can simply take your room’s trash bin to the house/communal bin and empty it out. By the way, in our opinion the newspaper in the bin looks much nicer than plastic!

Reusables Obviously, using reusable items such as water bottles, food containers, coffee cups, etc. is not a new hack. However, we once again want to emphasize not only its importance but also the benefits you experience. A lot of coffee places now give you discounts on beverages if you present your own reusable cup. Starbucks, for example, offers a 0.30€ discount, and McCafé 0.10€. If you buy one coffee per day at Starbucks, you’ll save 110€ simply by bringing your own cup! Super life hack: if you make your coffee at home and take it with you in your cup, you will save even more. Consequently, you protect the environment and save money. This is important because even paper cups cannot be recycled if they contain coffee and often are coated with plastic.

With the app “Refill”, you can find places close to you where you can refill your bottle with water for free.

Magic fridge move If you live a life following Zero Waste principles, you will consume more consciously, and hence consume less. As a result, your fridge might not be packed anymore. This seems good at first sight as it increases order in your life; however, it’s not energy efficient. Cold things keep each other cold, just as penguins keep each other warm when they stand close to each other. To have this effect in your fridge, you can simply put glass jars filled with water in it. This way, when you open the fridge, less cold temperature exits, as the objects inside store the coldness better than simply air. This doesn’t have to destroy your newly achieved order, as you can simply line up the empty jars at the back behind the objects. Additionally, it increases energy efficiency if you move your fridge 1 - 2 cm away from the wall. If you use these life hacks,

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you also don’t have to cool down your fridge as much, and can increase the temperature inside by 1 - 2 degrees.

Sustainable laundry Doing your laundry on a regular basis is necessary. We definitely won’t try stop you from that. However, there is an easy way to make your washing more sustainable: try to only run a load of laundry when the machine is completely full, and use cold water rather than hot to save on energy. And while you’re at it, avoid the dryer by using a clothesline or drying rack instead. This has the awesome side-effect that you barely have to iron your clothes, and it makes your clothes last longer.

Running taps An easy way to save water and money is to simply turn off the tap when you don’t need it, for example, while brushing your teeth! Additionally, running toilets and leaks contribute to thousands of gallons of water waste each year.

So how do you fix them? You can research the issue and find a DIY solution, or call your plumber. The upfront expense will eventually pay for itself, and the rest of us will thank you for not wasting water. Believe us, you will appreciate the wonderful silence that suddenly appears in your house.

Go digital Go digital when you can, and maybe suggest the same to your co-workers, lecturers, etc. Maybe you could suggest a waste-free alternative in the form of digital downloads to go along with your lectures. You can use the same strategy for receipts and train or aeroplane tickets that you can save in your digital wallet on your phone, where they are also protected from being lost.

This life hack does not only save trees from being cut down, but also saves the time spent on printing and emptying the bin every day.

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Utilize airplane mode and get into vacation mode You don’t need to be on an aeroplane to take advantage of your cellphone’s airplane mode, which charges your phone faster and uses less energy.

Additionally, you can switch off Bluetooth and your location when you don’t need them, which also saves battery. This way you can not only feel like you’re on vacation, but also use your phone battery for much longer – mine, for example, lasts up to 3 days without charging.

Flip switch This is also not a very new life hack, but that doesn’t make it less important or useful. Using a flip switch extension cable for all your items enables you to conveniently switch off all the unused devices at once in order to prevent energy waste. And now, lights off.

Zero Waste and pets Victoriya Bazynska All pets need food, water, safe shelter, enrichment and love.

I will give you some responsible pet owner tips that will help you to look after the environment, your pet(s) and yourself.

These tips will help you to give your pets the best life, save time and money, and be a part of Zero Waste!

First of all, you don’t need to throw away all the stuff that you already have for your pet(s), but it’s time to start replacing it in a Zero Waste way.

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1. How can we avoid the unnecessary and find useful information for Zero Waste care of pets?

Nowadays there are many information resources, and you can choose advice from any one, but which is the most correct? Which sources of information can we trust our health and the health of our pet(s) to?

Your research should be based on articles about health and the impact on the environment. When it comes to recipes for cooking meals for your pet(s) or making treats for them, we should look for information from animal organizations/associations. This will enable us to make sensible decisions.

2. Food First, you should do some research into what the animal actually eats, and what kind of nutrients this is made up of, to be sure that you will improve your pet’s health and mood.

If food is good for humans, then it must be good for our furry friends!

Cook food for them. For example, food with fruits and vegetables will provide well-balanced nutrition, and an additional boost of energy. I recommend that you use leftovers from yesterday’s dinner, if possible.

You can bake “sweets” for your pet(s) using vegetables and many other things – just Google it! This will work out at approximately half the price of the “sweets” that you buy in the shops.

When you go to the shops to buy food in bulk, take reusable cups or bags, depending on whether the food is liquid or solid.

3. How can we replace pets’ products with healthier, cheaper alternatives, save money and be more environmentally responsible?

Use the stuff that you already have. Replace plastic toys with natural ones, and your pet will be grateful, because they don’t like artificial textures and scents. You can use toys made from wood – if you have a dogm you can give it a stick from the nearest park. You can make toys from your old jeans, or completely out of old clothes! OR if you don’t want to, or you don’t have any free time, you can buy toys from a DIY animal-friendly shop. This is doubly satisfying because most DIY shops make donations to organizations that care for pets.

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If you have a cat, you can replace the cat litter, which is made from plastic, with sawdust, paper, pellets or wood.

Replace the plastic bags you use to collect your doggy excrement with compostable ones. If you live in a house with a garden, or have a little garden in front of your home, you can compost the excrement.

Every detail of a Zero Waste life is fundamental, so it is extremely important to do systematic research and keep looking for better solutions to daily problems.

Zero waste parenting Viktoria Ohulkova Zero Waste parenting? Is that even possible?

These are some pieces of advice that will make your parenting more sustainable:

1. Use cloth diapers, cloth wipes and nursing pads Why are single-use disposable nappies a problem? Here are some facts about them: •

The first disposable diaper dates back to the 1950s.

•

A baby needs an average of 5 000 disposable diapers, or 1.5 tons of diaper waste.

•

A disposable diaper takes 500 years to rot.

•

Nearly 4 000 - 5 000 nappies are used per child before its third year, which equals 1 ton of waste per child. In fact, even though nappies represent only between 1 and 2% of total municipal solid waste, in places with the highest separate collection rates, they represent the biggest fraction of residual waste.

The problem with nappies is their high fermentability, combined with their composition – a combination of plastic, cotton, creams and faeces. This means that, firstly, the nappy is disposed of in the waste bin as mixed waste, and, secondly, it requires very frequent garbage collection because of smells

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and other hazards.

If we could solve the problem of nappies in the waste bin, it would be possible to reduce the frequency of collection, which would reduce collection and disposal costs. Moreover, less nappies in landfills means

2. Use the library If you have a library nearby, it’s a wonderful opportunity to access books, videos, music and more without having to purchase them.

3. Don’t buy new: rent or use second-hand 4. Breastfeed your baby Breast milk and breastfeeding have huge benefits for both the mother and baby. Breast milk is package-free, easy to transport and always fresh. 14

14 Sources : www.zerowasteeurope.eu/2011/07/reusable-nappies-a-zero-waste-solution-to-an-european-problem www.wildminimalist.com/blogs/news/7-reusable-items-for-the-zero-waste-baby www.zerowastecalifornia.org/2019/11/05/the-zero-waste-diaper-guide www.www.babygearlab.com/topics/diapering-potty/best-disposable-diaper www.live-with-less.de/en/13-tipps-for-zero-waste-with-baby www.mamaminimalist.com/low-waste-parenting www.netdoctor.co.uk/parenting/baby-and-toddler/a30548792/eco-friendly-baby www.babystepstozerowaste.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/zero-waste-breast-milks-and-breast-feeding-baby

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Outside the house Travelling and vacations Diana and Vlada

We love travelling! When travelling you open your mind, explore new cultures, meet amazing new people and have great experiences. Unfortunately, travel involves a lot of disposable products. It can be challenging to travel "green", but give up travelling is not the solution. There are a few tools that you can implement while travelling around your country or around the world. So there is a way to travel eco-friendly, and that is by doing it in a more Zero Waste way!

Travel includes steps such as the organizational aspect, packing, deciding on meals, etc. We have organized these into blocks you can easily check while planning your trip.

1. Let’s organize a trip! We should always think in advance about accommodation and transportation.

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Go paperless. Do not print tickets, house bookings or any other reservations. We are at a point in history where everything is automated. So you can download tickets to your smartphone.

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Try to find eco-friendly accommodation. Some owners are generous and want to give you gifts, but it is better to refuse all unnecessary things that they offer you. Be friendly, open and patient, and try to explain why you are reducing the quantity of goods that you use while travelling.

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It is better to stay in homes than hotels. There you have more possibilities to recycle, cook and compost.

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You can choose accommodation that is close to the city centre, so you use less transport to decrease CO2 emissions. Also, you can walk more, which will make your trip more interesting and less expensive.

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2. Clothes •

Make a list of what you might do when you arrive. You can check the weather and think what clothes are most appropriate for the trip.

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Be realistic about what you need, so you don’t need to buy it again.

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To pack your clothes, do not use plastic bags. It is better to use fabric bags.

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For dirty clothes, use a cotton bag that you can wash together with your clothes after the trip.

3. Hygiene •

Stay away from plastic packaging. As an example, take a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one.

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Toiletries should be packed in small reusable jars. Be specific about your needs. This will save you space in your backpack, and prevent any waste.

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Check at home whether you have sealable containers that you can use to pack your toiletries. These could be reusable empty bottles or jars from other products.

4. Entertainment •

If you are travelling alone, it can get quite boring waiting for transportation. So, if you love reading, you can download books to your e-book, or visit local libraries. You can draw, you can listen to music or you can write.

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If you are travelling with other people, you can play games together.

5. Food •

Always plan in advance. Take your food with you so you don't need to buy food in plastic packaging.

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If flying, it is better to avoid airplane waste products and packed snacks.

You can always ask to be given drinks in your own cup.

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Buy products in local shops. There you can look for products that are free of plastic packaging. Also, you can try local street food that might

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be package-free. Say no to extra wrapping and napkins.

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Use your fabric bag (cotton bag or backpack) to carry food.

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Buy a reusable container that you can use to get take-away food, or to store any leftovers. Try to buy only the amount of food that you need, in order not to have leftovers.

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If you buy coffee, do not use plastic or paper cups. Even paper cups have some plastic in them, to prevent the liquid from leaking. Try to use your own cup, or to drink your coffee in the shop in order not to take it away.

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If you buy drinks, do not use straws. This seems like a little thing, but it can have a huge effect on the environment. If straws are necessary, then buy reusable ones that are made of metal, which you can carry in your bag.

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Carry your own fabric napkin or a little towel to use for cleaning your hands or wrapping food.

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Take your own spoon and fork, so you do not need plastic ones every time you get take-away food. You could also get a spork! It is an amazing item that can help to reduce plastic.

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Do not forget to take your reusable water bottle that you can fill at transport stations.

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It is best to cook for yourself. This way you can control packaging, the amount of food to be consumed and all stages of preparation.

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If you eat out, avoid plastic dishes. Eat at the restaurant so you do not need to take food away in packaging. If you’re not that hungry or the portions are very big, bring a reusable container from home and ask the waiter to pack the leftovers in it.

6. Shops •

Remember to Refuse when shopping: try to collect emotions, not stuff.

You can always take photos of things you like, and enjoy the moment.

Do not buy souvenirs.

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Try to consume only as much as you need, and do not over consume.

Think: "do I really need it?"

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If you want to buy new clothes, visit a local second-hand shop.

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7. Behaviour •

Use the rule of the 5Rs.

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Enjoy moments and capture moments, rather than collecting souvenirs.

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You can create a souvenir yourself using natural materials or any leftovers. Personalize it!

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Spend your money on experiences and entertaining yourself, not on purchasing things.

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Share good vibes.

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Always think in advance about your consumption, save water, avoid plastic, skip unnecessary electronic device usage.

We would like to show you how you can travel in a Zero Waste way. As an example, we chose a trip to Florence. Hope you like it!

After a long period of hard work, you have a week's vacation. You are going to Florence, Italy, in September with your partner. You are staying in an Airbnb close to the city centre.

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Organizing beforehand: Transportation and accomodation Try to find accommodation close to or accessible to the city centre, and get information about transportation options. Try to stay in places where you have a kitchen, so you can cook. It is cheaper and cooler to cook when you travel, because you can pretend you are living there for real!

Clothes Organize your clothes according to the number of days away, the weather and any activities planned. Take a few large clothes (like pullovers) that work over all your thin clothes. This way you will wear the pullovers or jackets more often, but your luggage will be much lighter. So, think ahead what clothes you will need for the activities you have planned. If you want to go out, you should think how many times you will actually be able to, and pick that number of outfits.

Hygiene For hygiene products, think about what you will use specifically that week.

You don’t have to take the whole box just because it seems easier. Take the amount you think you need, in small re-usable containers such as honey jars.

Electronics Think about the electronics for which you will definitely have time during this trip. Maybe the laptop is not necessary. Find out about the facilities at your accommodation: maybe you don’t need to bring a hair dryer or an iron.

Food Consider how many hours you are going to spend on transport, at what times of day (maybe at night you won’t eat as much, while if you’re travelling by day – yes), what your dietary habits are and how you can combine these two in a portable way.

Once you arrive at your location, while travelling try to keep your eyes open to places selling food. They don’t necessarily have to be Zero Waste shops. There might be farmer’s markets or regular markets where you can avoid packaging.

There might also be street food that you buy without packaging. Make sure you always have a backpack, some textile bags, containers or maybe even jars (optional) to pack food in case it is needed. If you always have something with you to carry food in, you can get it as you go, and you don’t have to specifically plan a trip to the shops. Also, you can update the recipes with leftovers, and buying gradually ensures you don’t throw away a lot of food.

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Transport Diana

emissions are increasingly affecting global temperatures, causing the sea levels to rise, gradually killing fauna and flora both in the ocean and on land. On a smaller scale, human health is affected by this increase in temperature. Diseases such as asthma, pulmonary and other types of cancer, and even acne are caused by it.

These are just a few of the reasons why we need to begin putting more effort into reducing CO2 emissions.

The goal is to reduce emissions, not to eradicate them completely – this would be an unreal and unachievable target. We need to focus on what we can do, and not on finding more reasons to do nothing as a result of aiming too high.

All the following options significantly reduce carbon emissions, and are incredibly eco-friendly, so I will not repeat this essential argument for each.

Urban: Alternatives •

Using the subway, bus or tram: much cheaper than a car, accessible, financially benefits communities, reduces traffic, frees up time for other activities than focusing on driving, increases fuel efficiency, encourages healthier habits thanks to not relying on the comfort of a car, safer.

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Riding a bicycle: cheap, low maintenance, can cut through traffic, no parking problems, individual, stress reliever, great exercise, mentally relaxing, reduces noise pollution

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Walking for short distances: reduces the risk for a lot of diseases (cardiovascular, pulmonary), improves cholesterol levels, builds stronger bones and muscles, reduces body fat, can be turned into a social activity, helps practise patience.

Extra-urban: Alternatives •

Going by train: more space, more comfort, safer, reduces the amount of traffic, you can pass time differently than when driving, sightseeing,

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can be cheaper.

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Going by bus or coach: much cheaper than flying, you can enjoy the sights when you don’t have to focus on driving, safer because the driver knows the roads and is a professional in his or her job.

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Riding a bicycle: for long distances this requires a bit of practice, but the bicycle can be taken by train, which reduces the distances to be ridden.

Cars: A car should only be used for transport of too-heavy-to-carry-another-way materials. If a car is necessary, you can try: •

Sharing the car with a community: decreases the costs, builds up stronger communities and reduces the amount of resources needed to maintain driving as a habit (fewer cars, less resources).

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Apps that allow you to pick up people for a small fee, or to get picked up by cars on a common route. This reduces traffic, helps maximize the energy and fuel efficiency of the trip, is cheaper, and is a good opportunity for socializing.

Examples: Blabla car, taxi company apps As far as possible, avoid using the most comfortable option without good reason. An aeroplane should be the last option (for extra-long distances or if you are really short of time). Otherwise it is better not to use one. The engines of a plane produce incredible amounts of heat, noise, particles and gases (like CO2, water vapor, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, lead and black carbon, which pollute the atmosphere.

This choice is beneficial not only for the environment, but for you. By choosing the train or a coach, you can enjoy the view and connect with the people around you. Find out their stories! 15

15 www.nationalexpresstransit.com/blog/9-benefits-of-public-transportation www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health www.russiantrains.com/en/blog/advantages-traveling-train www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_aviation

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At school and work Olha What types of waste do you create at work or in school?

Here are some tips to avoid massive amounts of waste at school and at work. 16

Meals and food: •

Prepare food the day before, and bring it with you: If you are in a rush, you will probably buy fast food, and unfortunately in most cases this is packed in plastic. Bringing food from home also saves money. Look for examples on Pinterest.

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If it’s hard for you to be creative and come up with a varied menu, bring your own utensils and a cloth napkin as an alternative to singleuse materials.

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Have your own cup: If you buy coffee or tea, bring your favourite reusable cup or mug. You will enjoy it even more.

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Have your own handmade snacks: When you buy snacks in a supermarket, they are usually packed in plastic. But you can start a good tradition and bake every weekend with your family, and have sweet snacks for the whole week.

Paper, materials, supplies: •

Try to keep everything digital (cloud, email, notes in your phone);

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Ask yourself if you really need things on paper: Don’t feel shy to ask for a digital version of any paper handouts.

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Print on both sides

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Suggest to your boss/teacher that (s)he buys recycled paper

16 www.trashisfortossers.com/zero-waste-girl-in-a-corporate-world

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Activities: •

Do upcycling as a team-building activity with your class or colleagues.

Organize a team-building event in which everyone brings something from home. It could be anything you haven't used for the last year. Try to make something useful out of it.

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Here is a YouTube video with lots of examples.

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Offer trainings and workshops on waste reduction: If you don’t recycle in your work/school you can offer a workshop and present it yourself. If you already have boxes for different materials, you can organize movies for everyone to watch on sustainability.

And don’t be afraid to be self-confident – be an example of Zero Waste principles. Always try to be positive and do it with a smile, and you will see that people accept your choice and might try it themselves.

If someone thinks you are weird, it only means you are doing something different!

Shopping Aleksa Let's talk about unbalanced shopping. It is a disease of modern society that we buy things purely for the sake of our own satisfaction. We buy so much, and more than half of it we don’t really need. It’s a pattern of this century that must be broken. This cycle currently consumes humanity, making every day exactly the same as another: we wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV – where we are pounded by a million commercials for things we, apparently, must buy the next day – and all in a continuous loop.

In our desire to possess as much stuff as possible, we never think about whether we really need it, or even better, "Can I avoid buying that?"

It’s one big, bad habit our society suffers from. Zero Waste way is a solution for this situation, where we adapt our lifestyles to a system where we avoid buying waste.

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This problem can be seen from several different angles. Firstly, it is a psychological problem, where we seek the comfort of knowing that we have a lot: it gives us the feeling that we are safe and protected from poverty and hunger.

Secondly, it’s an economic and political problem. We live in a strict system where shops and factories want us to buy as much as possible so that they can earn money. Capitalism is one of the positive aspects of modern society, but it brings with it some terrible consequences, and one is this sickness of buying waste ("junk" we don’t need).

We can’t end capitalism, because it has taken root in our society – although alternatives, such as Marxism, have been proposed – but we can look at ourselves, and take control of our lives and our manner of shopping.

Every time you find yourself wanting to buy something, simply ask yourself: "Do I really need this?" Don’t blindly buy it because of a desire in that moment.

We should also pay attention to what materials are we buying – we must avoid plastic and paper at all costs.

Restaurants (to go, leftovers) Anna Ćaleta First of all, we should try to avoid restaurants and fast food chains whenever possible. At the very least, we can try to find local ones that are not owned by multinational corporations. Big food chains have a higher carbon footprint because they mostly serve food that they have pre-cooked or pre-packaged in other parts of the world, making single-use packaging inevitable.

Try cooking from scratch as much as you can – start with a basic recipe, and then play with it a little by adding new ingredients or spicing it up.

For work/a picnic/etc., you can prepare lunch and put it in a reusable container or glass jar, or use reusable wax-wrap for bread, sandwiches or fruit, and bring your own cutlery and cloth napkins. You don't have to buy anything new: just use what you already have at home.

For those who are dependent on take-out food, there are also solutions.

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Research nearby restaurants. Contact your favourite restaurant about their food suppliers, and ask if they use seasonal fruits and vegetables, or imported ones. Maybe they have local, ethical suppliers. Local foraging not only helps local farmers and growers, but has a smaller carbon footprint. Some restaurants have a compost bin for their food scraps, or donate leftover food to the homeless, which is always a positive thing. Additionally, you can find out if they use reusable dishes or only disposables, and if the latter, ask them if it is possible to bring your own cup and containers. They might even offer a discount if you bring your own reusables, so you can save money!

When ordering, refuse straw or paper napkins. If they forget and still bring them, take them away with you – give them to someone, use them later (when you forget your own), or reuse them in other ways.

Every so often, restaurants might refuse to put take-out food into your own containers because of sanitary regulations in their country. You can still avoid this rule (when the restaurant has reusable dishes) by ordering food to be brought to the table, so you can put it into your container yourself. You can do the same if you have leftovers on your plate, and take them with you for later.

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More about food waste in restaurants Galya Boyanova Finding ways to reduce food waste has a variety of benefits. It keeps food out of landfill, means there is ultimately less of a market demand for more food, and can help save money. And according to a recent study, investing in reducing food waste can actually help restaurants to make significantly more money.

Food waste in restaurants: Problems and solutions Prep. Serve. Consume. Restaurant operations seem simple enough. After all, it’s just food, right? But where does it go when you don’t like it? What happens to the wrong orders? Half-finished plates? Ageing ingredients? It’s simple, and you already know the answer. It goes in the trash. This protocol is upheld in the interests of consumer health. And yet, this etiquette has led to a massive oversight in consumption and waste patterns. The chaos of a full restaurant, matched with the logistical nightmare of preparing for a “rush”, has created an abundant waste problem – one with a 161 billion price tag.

Harmful habits with a big impact At present, the USA wastes 40% of its food each year. Not only does this create an enormous ethical dilemma, it is also extremely expensive. The resources that are poured into food production and transportation are being lost on wasteful habits. If all the work of growing, harvesting, labour and transportation is lost to waste, then so too are the resources that enable the production in the first place. What’s more, food produces harmful greenhouse gases. Landfills are overflowing with rotting food, which releases methane into the atmosphere. Food waste in restaurants has created an environmental disaster – one that will take diligence and commitment to resolve.

If 40% of the food in the USA is wasted, then surely Americans are overfed and healthy? Wrong. This is where food waste becomes shameful. What about the hungry and the homeless? America has a food waste problem, but it also, ironically, has a hunger problem. Food insecurity affects many, as they have no reliable source of food. So how have we come to the point where excess food is being tossed out, and hungry mouths are going unfed? It comes down to habits.

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Food waste is not limited to restaurants, although they often steal the spotlight because they are literally in the business of preparing food. Consumers also contribute to the problem through misguided and unprepared shopping and eating habits. A lack of education on the matter has led to a gross misuse of products that are still safe to eat, but often end up in the trash. The root of the problem, then, lies in a lack of analysis over habits. Restaurants and consumers must take a step back and explore the ways they use their food.

Here are two interesting initiatives on what to do with food waste:

1. Winnow Education on food waste still has a long way to go, but some trailblazers have emerged with exciting technology and initiatives to drive change. Marc Zornes, co-founder of Winnow, rose to the challenge when he saw that a change needed to be made in the restaurant industry. “The fear of running out” was and continues to be a motivator for restaurants to over-prepare dishes. Chefs are afraid of losing business or falling behind, so they prep several meals in advance. Often, however, the maths is off by a large margin, and the food is simply wasted. Zornes’ Winnow technology works to combat this behaviour by allowing chefs and kitchen staff to input the items they throw away. Winnow’s scale measures food waste by bin, thus allowing kitchen management to analyze the way they use their food. Winnow’s early adopters rave that the technology has saved them money, and changed the way they view waste.

2. Instock Another great initiative is Instock, a trio of restaurants whose menus are crafted from surplus supermarket items. The idea for Instock was pitched by three friends, Bart Roetert, Freke van Nimwegen and Selma Seddik. They were devastated at the amount of food that was wasted by local supermarkets.

Day-old bread and blemished produce were being thrown out when they could have been saved for consumption. The three wanted to make an impactful statement, so they drove around collecting excess food from local markets. They used that “waste” to make new and exciting dishes that could be served to the public. Instock now attracts the attention of both foodies and earth-friendly consumers. Instock also has an online marketplace where surplus food can be sold to caterers. A school programme was also drafted in conjunction with the Instock initiative. The programme aims to educate young children about smart consumption habits, as well as the dangers of food waste.

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There will always be resistance to change. Some chefs are hesitant to rise to the challenge, because they do not want to admit how much food they waste. And then there are chefs who simply do not know what that amount looks like. In other cases, upper echelon restaurants refuse to sacrifice their pride and status. Certain elite chefs want to use only the finest and freshest ingredients in their dishes. They are unwilling to forgo that standard. And so, food waste in restaurants continues to grow.

Solutions for food waste in restaurants Food waste reduction starts with commitment. Restaurants must dedicate themselves to eliminating waste in every possible way. Below are some tips for restaurant managers, chefs and kitchen staff:

1. Organize your fridge Move soon-to-expire items to the front of the fridge, and understand that these items must be used before anything else. Invest in smart labelling, and teach one other about stock rotation practices. This will help to ensure that as much food is used as possible.

2. Regulate the temperatures of your food This goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Always make sure your food is properly stored. Inconsistent temperatures will cause your food to prematurely spoil.

3. Go “stem-to-root” Instead of throwing away the unused parts of your food, find a way to incorporate them into other dishes. For example, use the stalks and skins of fruits and vegetables to create a new side or purée for a dish. You can also use leftover meat and bones to create a delicious soup broth or gravy.

4. Donate surplus Remember all those hungry mouths? If you have a ton of excess food, consider donating it to a food bank or shelter. Even if you can’t find a way to use your food, someone surely will. Expiring or day-old food can also be sold at a discount, as a way to incentivize consumers to eliminate waste.

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5. Audit your waste The best way to prevent further waste is to understand how it’s produced.

Chefs and managers can benefit from analyzing their kitchen’s habits. With a better understanding, new and smarter habits to eliminate waste can be established.

It takes more than one person to make a change of this magnitude. It’s not enough for upper management to analyze and inspect the fridge. The only way this change will happen is if the entire kitchen staff is on board with the initiative. If you are a restaurant manager, consider holding an all-staff meeting to educate your team on the importance of saving food. Once everyone understands the mission, your efforts to reduce food waste will be more successful.

Here is what you can do today If you’re a restaurant or bar looking to overhaul waste management and transaction procedures, check out software at Glimpse. Their video technology analyzes food and beverage transactions against set standard operating procedures. Discrepancies among the data sets can be used to report noncompliance issues. Their software takes a closer look at how food is used and wasted, and how restaurant and bar staff can better serve their customers. 17 Examples of Zero Waste restaurants 1. Silo in Brighton, the UK’s first and only 100% Zero Waste restaurant 2. Ravens Restaurant, Stanford Inn, California 3. Urbane, Seattle, Washington 4. Blagichka-zero waste, Sofia, Bulgaria 5. Nolla, the first Zero Waste restaurant in the Nordic region 6. Restlos Glücklich, foodsaving restaurant in Berlin, Germany 7. CReeA, Zero Waste vegan restaurant in Tarragona, Spain

17 www.glimpsecorp.com/food-waste-in-restaurants-problems-and-solutions www.greenmatters.com/p/reducing-food-waste-restaurants-study

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Interesting links: •

Food waste restaurant challenge guide

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Quiz about restaurant efficiency and sustainability

Gardening Diana & Veneta In today’s world, there are many different types of gardens that can be grown as traditional rural gardens take a step back, and more and more people decide to live in big cities. Urban areas are places where people generate a lot of food waste, which can be composted and reused in gardening. Gardening has many benefits. One of these is related to the natural and organic qualities of fruits, veggies and herbs. One also relates to our mental and physical health, as gardening itself releases stress and breeds positive thoughts.

Another benefit of gardening is that we can loop production by using organic waste and food leftovers and composting them. By doing this, we produce new soil that is rich in elements for the new crops. The overall positive effect of gardens is that they sustain the production of oxygen and keep the soil “active”, as during production we nurture it, water it and soften it so the plants are aired.

In this section, we outline three different types of gardens that have their own features and ways to implement Zero Waste principles: •

gardens at home;

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urban (outdoor) gardens;

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rural gardens.

More information about each is shared below.

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Home gardening This type of gardening is applicable for everyone, as it refers to growing plants inside our flats or houses no matter where we live. The most important requirement is the availability of sunlight, as this helps plants to grow. Indoor plants have many benefits, such as absorbing toxins and CO2 from the air, refreshing the design of rooms and improving concentration and productivity.

Different rooms enable different kinds of species to grow. For instance, orchids and succulents are appropriate for bedrooms, moss is good for the bathroom, plants with big leaves for the office, etc.

How can home gardening reduce our waste? It is as easy as this: you can produce your own soil by using your organic waste. This can be produced from food leftovers such as coffee sludge, remains of fruits and vegetables, tea bags, dead leaves, egg shells, etc. The production of home-made soil is easier than it looks. We all have organic waste, such as food scraps, which usually ends up in the bin with plastic, paper and glass. In order to become sustainable, this organic waste could be a great resource for growing healthy plants. Start preparing your compost by separating dry from wet trash in different buckets. To speed up the process of composting down to 2 months, there is a special type of bacteria called compost micro-organisms. They imitate the natural processes happening in the environment.

Another option for waste reduction connected to gardening is to use old materials for pots and decorations by reusing or upcycling old stuff – containers, textiles, bottles, wooden objects. In this way you can contribute step by step to a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle for you and the people around you. But this is just the beginning in terms of gardening.

Urban gardening Here we are going to talk about outdoor planting, which is more seasonal.

There are different places in cities where people can plant their gardens: on balconies, on roofs and between buildings. The three most important resources that need to be available are water, sun and soil. People can also apply the principles of vertical gardening by planting species in pallets, which saves place and allows polyculture planting. Production in urban gardens is demand-oriented, increases resource efficiency and enhances dopamine in the human body and releases stress. Composting here becomes even more vital, as the garden itself produces more organic waste than a home one, which becomes a generator for new compost material. In outdoor gardens in general, more effort is expected than in home gardens. While growing

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different cultures, gardeners can use eco-friendly materials to support them such as wooden pallets, if available, or breathable mulch for areas where there are no plants. These help the soil to keep moisturised and aired, which are important qualities for healthy plants.

Rural gardening (needs more information) This is the most common type of gardening, where people grow plants outdoors in bigger areas than urban gardens. With the decrease of people living in the countryside, and the increase of GMO cultures, this has become an important field. Another important fact is the increasing use of herbicides and pesticides in gardening, the lack of biodiversity (known also as monoculture), as well as the aggressive machinery that is used in order to support people in the heavy work required. However, there are ways to decrease your agricultural footprint, such as composting, reusing old and unnecessary items, upcycling, producing your own ecological liquids and materials for plant protection, etc.

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Composting After reading this, are you totally hooked on the idea of starting your own compost? There are many different ways to do this, depending on your housing situation and your personal preferences. Find out which kind of composting is right for you: 18

18 www.gardensthatmatter.com/infographic-best-compost-method www.ambius.com/blog/urban-gardening-tips www.dengarden.com/gardening/Companion-Planting-in-the-Garden-Good-and-Bad-Neighbours

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Protecting the Danube River apps Mark We need more maps/apps focusing on the Danube river that show specific corners, bridges and landscapes that are great to explore and discover, including:.

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Signs with QR codes to find pictures/information

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Highlighting green practices (water cleaning)

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Fishing and non-fishing spots

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Biodiversity museum

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Bridges and beautiful landscapes

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Map of bins around the Danube

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Link these to souvenir shops.

Souvenir shops can help to raise awareness. Tourists can invest in the Danube river through purchasing sustainable souvenirs for and from the Danube river.

Example of an app: RiverApp Example of a networking platform: River management society

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Trivia about materials and resources Electronics General electronics Andreas Electronic devices and cables are another common category that causes severe problems regarding production and waste. As society evolves, so does technology and our use of electronic devices, but somehow the lifecycle of such products decreases. The industry has normalized the daily use of electronic devices such as smartphones or laptops, but as these products become increasingly complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to repair or upcycle them, resulting in a lot of waste. 19 According to techdump, a website providing recycling solutions for electronic products, approximately 130 million smartphones are thrown away each year.

These phones are made out of valuable and increasingly scarce materials that need to be mined, shipped and treated accordingly for production. With appropriate treatment, these materials can be separated and recycled for future use, but how does this work, and what can we as consumers do to reduce the waste while still enjoying the benefits of such devices?

Buying behaviour Yes, we are all used to having certain electronic devices, and to some extent they have become a necessity within modern society. However, we can be mindful about the environment at the stage of purchasing the product. Apart from the major phone companies such as Apple or Samsung, whose phones are produced with the intention of being replaced within 1 or 2 years, there are alternative concepts being developed as we speak, tackling the life-cycle 19 www.techdump.org/importance-of-cell-phone-recycling/#:~:text=A%20record%20130%20million%20cell,can%20 be%20recovered%20if%20recycled

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of smartphones and their environmental impact. Fairphone is an example of a sustainable smartphone production company, focusing on fairness in the production cycle, and also towards the consumer. The company introduced their smartphones with the new concept of building blocks, allowing replacement of broken parts, while functional parts can remain in use. This concept results in far less waste, since only broken parts need to be replaced, and not the entire phone. 20

Electronic waste In order to understand how we as consumers can deal with electronic and electrical waste, we first need to understand the waste management process in our countries. Waste management differs between countries and even regions within a country. However, general insights on waste management regarding electrical waste will help us to find means of sustainable waste management.

20 shop.fairphone.com/en/?ref=header

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As mentioned above, the electronic devices that are thrown away contain valuable and increasingly scarce materials. Governments have set targets in place regarding recycling and recovery rates of these materials. These percentages represent the amount of raw materials that are separated and treated for reuse from broken devices. In Germany, these percentages differ between product categories, and range from 55% to 80%. These targets seem quite promising, and Germany in fact managed to meet these targets in 2018.

However in the USA, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 60% of discarded electronics still end up in the trash, and subsequently landfill.

The process of recycling electrical waste is quite complex, and differs according to the items and the materials contained in them. Heating and cooling systems, for instance, require removal of the fluid, whereas smartphones require separation of the battery and isolation of copper and gold. Light bulbs contain toxic chemicals that need to be separated and handled carefully in order notto harm the environment, as well as workers.

It is in the hands of consumers to discard their electronic and electrical waste properly, as well as to purchase electronic devices while being mindful of the environment. But where can we properly throw out such waste? As mentioned above, waste management systems differ across countries and regions. However, most countries have recycling stations or collection stations with a separate category for electronic and electrical waste. Therefore our recommendation is to collect such waste separately from general and organic waste, and find a recycling or collection station close to you. Local government websites usually provide this information, with categories regarding waste management. It is their job to inform inhabitants about waste management and recycling stations. 21

21 www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/waste-resources/product-stewardship-waste-management/electricalelectronic-waste#electrical-and-electronic-waste-in-germany blog.idrenvironmental.com/why-it-s-important-to-dispose-of-e-waste-properly

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Alternatives to plastic Ivan Yordanov Overproduction and overuse of plastic bottles are one of the main environmental issues of our planet.

A few years ago, Skipping Rocks Lab began developing alternatives. And now, their edible packaging for liquids is ready for production. It's called Ooho.

The London startup has developed the packaging of the future. It could become an excellent alternative to plastic cups, packaging and bottles.

Ooho is a tasteless but edible wrapper created from seaweed extract. It is durable, cheap to manufacture and, moreover, most importantly, it is totally environmentally friendly. You can not only eat it, but also throw it away in the wild – it will quickly dissolve and disappear.

The technology has been developed over 2 years. Now its creators have patented a method, with the help of which they will very soon proceed to the production of Ooho. For now, however, investors are looking for...

In addition to this project, regarding the emergence of more innovations in this direction, I offer you 9 alternatives to replace plastic: 1. Bamboo toothbrushes 2. Stainless steel/glass water bottles 3. Ecological coffee cups 4. Wipes or menstrual cups

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5. Cloth diapers 6. Reusable packaging 7. Compostable garbage bags 8. Reusable eco-friendly tableware (wood or metal) 9. Reusable straws These items, if not replaced, represent 1/3 of all plastic products in the world, in terms of quantity.

And remember, saving the earth from poisonous and harmful plastics is saving yourself, your loved ones and your pets.

Plastic straws Rohachevska Liubov

Did you know that every day, humans use more than 500 million straws? If you laid these end to end, that would wrap around the planet four times.

Think about how we use these plastic straws for only a few minutes before we throw them into the bin. And what about drinks that come with more than one straw? It’s crazy!

The problem is, they don’t always go in the bin. They often end up in nature: for example, they go into the ocean. And even if the straws do end up in the bin, what then? As you know, plastic doesn't break down, so it will never “go away”.

Once upon a time, people used plants as straws. But in 1937, Joseph Friedman created the plastic straw, and in the 1970s he opened the Flexible Straw Corporation. Ever since, we have had a problem with plastic straws that can't be recycled.

Did you know that the very first straw you ever used is still somewhere on this planet? It will never break down, and it will never “go away”.

We know that there are people with limited movement of their mouth or

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arms, people in wheelchairs, for example. And we understand that those people really rely on straws – but we don't.

Living straw-free is actually really simple. All that you need to do is make a decision to stop using them. It's simple!

And if you must use straws, there are a lot of alternatives. For example, bamboo, stainless steel, glass and paper straws are much better than plastic ones.

When you buy a drink at a take-away shop, cafe or a bar, just ask for “no plastic straw” and tell the staff member why. Ask them to use reusable straws to show their customers that they care about our planet.

Remember that simple things that you can do can have a big influence.

Plastic bag facts – once and forever Created in the early 1960s by a Swedish engineer with the intention to save the world – as at that time, used paper bags were causing more and more forests to be chopped down – plastic bags are now the symbol of environmental pollution. Here’s all you need to know about about the “good bags gone bad”: •

The bags are made from various kinds of plastic, most often polyethylene and polypropylene.

•

Approximately one trillion bags are produced each year.

•

It may take up to 1 000 years for plastic bags to degenerate – in unfavourable conditions, they might never decompose at all.

•

The plastic bag's life is a short one: on average, they have a lifetime of 12 minutes.

•

Each year, between 1 and 5 five trillion plastic bags are used and discarded all over the world.

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•

To produce a plastic bag of 20 g, 40 g of oil are needed.

•

Besides being an enormous pollutant of our environment, plastic bags pose a threat to animals, as they might eat or become entangled in them. In addition, especially for children, there’s a risk of suffocation due to plastic bags.

•

While plastic bags are far from being non-polluting, the alternatives aren’t much better: paper and cotton bags do quite a lot of damage, too. Relatively speaking, a paper bag has to be used 3 times, and a cotton bag 131 times, to be as environmentally-friendly as a recycled plastic bag.

Next time you’re in a store and about to put your purchases in a plastic bag, keep these things in mind. Even better, just remember to bring a reusable bag from home!

Fabrics Lea Do you check the materials in your clothes, cushions or other textiles when you buy and use them? And if you do, do you know what they mean for the environment?

The techniques of growing and making different textiles have, depending on the type of fabric, different environmental impacts on water use, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well effects as on health through the chemicals released when dyeing or bleaching occur later in the process.

Unfortunately, there is not one single sustainable fabric as a solution for the whole industry. This chapter should give you a rough overview of the different fibres and their implication for the planet and people, as an initial orientation.

Natural fibres Natural fibres are those materials extracted from plants or animals in a natural way. But they also account for a high environmental impact in terms of water and resource scarcity and global warming.

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Cotton Cotton is grown on plantations, mostly in monoculture, in China, India, the USA and Pakistan. Processed cotton is made from the white coating inside the plant’s bud, which is easily picked. The fibre is easy to process and very versatile. On the EU textile marke,t 43% of all fibres used are cotton fibres.

What is problematic in current cotton growing practice is the fact that it needs a lot of water as well as land, and conventional crop growing involves a lot of toxic fertilizers and pesticides for weed control. Compared to conventional cotton, the organic version is much more gentle on the environment, as it uses less water and pesticides. Moreover, the social issues connected to cotton growth are known, most recently from the glyphosat scandal, where poor farmers are made economically dependent on big corporations.

Linen Linen is one of the oldest fabrics produced by humankind, and once again in vogue as it is very comfortable and hypoallergenic. It is made out of flax in a rather labour-intensive process.

Hemp Hemp is, similarly to linen, labour-intensive in production. While many of the plant’s parts can be used for various purposes, there are often chemicals involved in making the actual fibre.

Wool Wool is water-repellent, self-cleaning and heat-insulating. There are several types of wool, from angora to cashmere to merino wool or camel hair, depending on the source. The environmental impact of wool is mostly due to high greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to global warming and environmental pollution. Moreover, so-called "mulesing" is a problem for animal welfare. This is a practice where, in order to prevent inflammation, the skin folds of the sheep are cut, causing the animals a lot of pain. To make sure you’re not contributing to such practices, you can look for mulesing-free wool.

Leather Despite being a very durable material, leather is problematic from an ethical and animal welfare perspective, as it is often not merely a by-product of the meat industry. The breeding of animals for leather production involves high water and energy usage, and the production of the material is quite laborious.

However, there are more ethical alternatives entering the market, made from

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synthetics, or even innovative types of man-made fibres such as leather from pineapple leaves (piñatex) or appleskin.

Man-made cellulosic fibres Man-made cellulosics (MMCs) or regenerated cellulosic fibres are artificially fabricated, but from a natural source. They are derived from cellulose, which is an essential part of the cell wall of plants. The use of chemicals in the production process is the main cause for criticism of these fabrics.

Viscose or rayon Viscose is made from wood cellulose or pulp, and fabricated in a chemical process. As it does not need as much water or energy as cotton to grow, the usage of viscose has doubled over the last 30 years. It is a biodegradable fibre from a regenerative source, even though its sustainable sourcing is sometimes questioned given the immensely increased demand.

Modal This fibre is made out of beechwood, and processed similarly to viscose. The fabric is more durable than viscose, and low-maintenance. From a European perspective it is more sustainable than cotton, as it comes from mostly dry regions, so beechwood can be grown locally and does not need as much water.

Lyocell Lyocell, also known under the brand name Tencel, is also made out of wood cellulose (eucalyptus, oak or birch), and biodegradable. The fabric can be decomposed within several months though special micro-organisms. The argument for sustainability through geographic advantage also applies to lyocell. Moreover, the wooden material of cellulosic fibres (re)grows quickly, and does not need irrigation or the use of pesticides.

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Synthetic fibres These fibres are made synthetically from mineral oil in an artificial, chemical process, and are not biodegradable. 70% of the world's textile production is dependent on synthetic fibres, even though oil drilling is an environmentally highly questionable process, and oil a limited resource. Unfortunately, in addition to not being biodegradable, synthetic fibres release microplastics into the groundwater, and ultimately into our food chain, every time they are washed. There is early evidence of microplastics in breast milk and human corpses, and long-term studies are being run on the impact of microplastics on health and fertility. Moreover, these fibres use a lot of chemicals in the production process. 22 Polyester Polyester is, like all synthetic fibres, made out of fossil fuels, and makes up 16% of all fibres used in the textile industry. Compared to cotton it is much less water-intensive in production, but many textiles produced today are a mixture of cotton and polyester. More and more recycled polyester is produced today, mostly from PET bottles, and scientists are experimenting with biobased versions of polyester. Other names for polyester are trevira, diolem, polartec, polarguard, vestand, thermolite and dacron.

Polyacryl The characteristics of polyacryl are similar to wool. Polyacryl is often mixed with cIf you look closely, you will notice that most of your clothes contain polyacryl.

Other names for polyacryl are orlon, dolan, dralon or polyacrylonitrile.

22 www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/633143/EPRS_BRI(2019)633143_EN.pdf miteckenundkanten.com/materialkunde-nachhaltige-materialien-ein-ueberblick/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=Fair+Fashion+Newsletter www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/17/microplastic-particles-discovered-in-human-organs reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0160412020322297?token=211F5264B9E903AB5402501D842DFF32DD 3E065CAEA6FF56496B79C3C89F6F1CD6C50ECE0DD75D4FC19E9CBCDA5835B3&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20210502114321 reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0013935120305703?token=4A8CD59034BF397A62463B0C88BCF8CB31 AA0F7202FFBBD87CFE27B3187DE85840832F3895A2D8B96D007AA22D8F773A&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20210502114357 www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-wasteon-the-environment-infographic

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Polyamide This fabric is used in many different fields, and not just in the textile industry.

In your wardrobe, you’ll most likely find it in swimwear, functional clothing or tights. It is also called nylon, perlon, helanca, teflon, tactel, grilon, dederon or antron.

Elastane Elastane often constitutes just a small share of a fabric mixture, but it makes the product more elastic as it can be stretched to up to 500% or 700% of its original form without breaking. It has to contain at least 85% polyurethane in order to be called elastane. It can also be found under the names lycra, spandex, dorlastan or polyurethane. The environmental issues with elastane are similar to those of other synthetic fibres.

Are shopping receipts recyclable?

Inna Chashchyna

Have you ever thought how harmful the receipts are that we receive in shops, malls, supermarkets, banks, restaurants and cafés everyday? Most receipts are made from multiple materials and printed on thermal paper (the shiny kind), which contains BPA and BPS chemicals. Both are potentially harmful, hence they have already been banned from things like single-use plastic water bottles.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the main problem in this combination. BPA is a xenoestrogen, a proven endocrine disruptor, exhibiting oestrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in consumer products and food containers.

It enters our bodies through the stomach, respiratory system and skin. Since the skin is our biggest organ, it is highly recommended not to touch thermal paper or its derivatives, such as bank cheques and cashier receipts.

The issue of BPA, however, doesn’t end at receipts: it expands to a series of other products in daily use, such as baby bottles, food storage containers and

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reusable water bottles.23 Be advised that BPA-containing plastic is usually marked with the following resin Identification codes: 3 (polyvinyl chloride), 6 (styrene) or 7 (other, e.g. acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polylactic acid). The absence of a code can also tell you about BPA presence.

What should we do with the receipts we get?

1. Of course it is better to go to street markets and buy what we need without receipts, but if we don't have the opportunity and need to go to supermarkets, the current advice is to bin them, rather than place them in the recycling. But the good news is, more and more shops are opting for digital receipts via email or smartphone. There is such an initiative in the Ukraine to develop digital receipts, and let's hope that soon we will see this system in all shops, banks, cafés and restaurants.

2. Wash your hands after contact with cashier’s checks, ticket receipts and other forms of thermal paper.

23 ecognize.me/ www.wired.co.uk/article/receipt-recycling-uk-thermal-paper-digital-receipt www.countryliving.com/uk/news/amp24837096/shopping-receipts-bpa-receipts-recycling/

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Self-care Beauty ceremonial Maria

As a teenager, I used a lot of cosmetics such as concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow, lipsticks in all tones of red, day/night creams for face and body, balsams, shampoos, depilation creams, etc. My shelves were always full of plastic bottles and jars, and after every holiday, the quantity of them increased – but the quality of my skin was deteriorating. I could not stop using creams and concealers, because my skin was dry and partly fatty, and little wrinkles were appearing.

And I was only 16 or 17 years old.

As time went on, things began to change. I visited an eco-village on an island where the owners didn’t allow me to use my shampoo and shower gel. I was surprised, but they explained to me that the water from a shower goes into the ground that we use for growing vegetables and fruit, and into lakes. This can be harmful for us and for the inhabitants of the lakes, because of the chemicals contained in hygiene products. It was the first warning bell in terms of my awareness. I didn’t want to live in such danger, and I started to research and change my lifestyle. I recommend you check the website www.ewg.org where you can find information on the products you use. The first chemical ingredient I started to avoid was sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS can strip skin of its natural oils, and cause dry skin and irritation. Check your shampoo ingredients. Unfortunately, most skin/hair-care products contain SLS and/ or other types of sulfates, because these chemicals create good lather. But honest, good shampoo, gel, balsam or soap doesn’t have to lather well.

Shampoo and soap manufacturers add chemicals to create bubbles purely for the aesthetic satisfaction of people who like to see something happening. The only thing a bubble shows is how soap reacts to water, but not how attracted it is to dirt.

In terms of wellness and avoiding plastic waste, the best option is solid soap. Good soap can be bought from people who make it themselves (not in

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supermarkets), or you can make it yourself.

One of the best soaps in my opinion is castile soap. It is very good for the skin (the volume of olive oil in natural soap is not less than 90%), and you can also wash your hair, the dishes, clothes and even your pets. There is one drawback to this soap, and that is its price. That is why I recommend you make it yourself. There are many bases you can use for your soap, such as tar or other types of oil.

Personally, I don’t always have time to make soap, so I sometimes buy it from other people. I also use ground oats for washing my body and hair (I grind them in a coffee-blender). After washing your hair with oats, you need to wait till your hair is dry, and if there are loose pieces, it is easy to comb them out.

For my body and hair I also use use coffee grounds, sometimes mixed with soda. As a balsam I use water with lemon juice or apple acid. My husband washes his hair with clay. It invigorates the hair and makes it stronger. If the clay is left on the hair for 30 minutes, this makes it is easy to wash the oil out from it. You can use the same clay for your body and for washing dishes.

My solid deodorant I bought in Romania, and it is natural crystal. You can also make deodorant with a soda base yourself. Mass-produced antiperspirants contain a type of aluminum that can lead to serious health problems.

As a gift to your teeth you can use chewing sticks: peel the end of the stick and gently rub your teeth and gums. If you are used to, let’s say, a normal toothbrush, buy one that is recyclable – there are many options made from different types of wood.

You can also make toothpaste yourself: mix coconut oil, white baking clay and just a little baking soda.

For women, I recommend you stop using plastic liners and pads. My grandma in her youth used handmade liners made from gauze. To sew your own reusable liners or pads, you can use cotton. Cotton causes less sweating, and also reduces the risk of toxic shock syndrome. The process of making them is easy – you can look it up online and spend time creating your own products.

Otherwise, you can use a reusable menstrual cup made from natural rubber or any material you prefer.

For cosmetics, you can experiment and be creative.

For eye shadows/eyebrow liner: use coconut oil plus natural colors (for example, carob for a brown colour). My beauty routine consists only of henna.

I use henna to make dots over my eyebrows, and I use it for colouring my

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hair. I like to use coconut oil for everything from hair to nails, and I use plant decoctions for my hair and as a base for future soaps.

By using natural products, you take care of yourself without producing plastic waste.

Zero Waste self-care beauty products Violina Kirilova, Anna Ćaleta

Into this part of the book, we present some self-care beauty recipes that are made from purely natural products, do not harm the nature around us and also save money.

As we already know, nowadays, the beauty products offered on the market are full of chemical ingredients, whose origin, composition and true influence on our body we do not know. In many of these products we find substances that damage rather than preserve our beauty. Often they are packaged in plastic, which is one of the most harmful materials.

With these DIY beauty hacks, we want to introduce new ways of producing

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Zero Waste beauty products by using natural products that we have at home.

In this way you can protect yourself from the chemicals in ordinary beauty products, which get into your body through your skin. Also, this way you reduce the use of plastic and other materials that are non-degradable and harmful to nature.

Quick and easy deodorant You can make this deodorant in less than 10 minutes!24 •

1/3 cup coconut oil

•

1/4 cup baking soda

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1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch

•

6 - 10 drops of essential oils, if desired (tea tree and lavender are my favourite)

1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot.

2. Mash in coconut oil until blended. Add essential oils, if desired.

3. Place the mixture in an empty glass jar.

4. To use, just warm a small amount between your fingers until it turns into liquid. Apply to your armpits.

If it’s hot outside, the coconut oil will be liquid, so no need to mash it. But you can also warm it in a pot over steam.

If you have sensitive skin, skip the baking soda and add more starch.

For a more luxurious deodorant, check the recipe below!

Homemade deodorant recipe with lavender and sage The first step in this recipe is to make an infused herbal oil with lavender and sage, or any other herbs of your choice.25 FOR THE INFUSED HERBAL OIL Fill a half-pint canning jar about 2/3 full of dried lavender and sage leaf. Melt 1/4 cup of coconut oil in a saucepan on the stove over low heat, then pour over the dried herbs. Then add sweet almond oil to fill the jar.

Cover the jar and put it in a cool and dark place to infuse for 2 - 6 weeks (the 24 www.healthline.com/health/natural-deodorants-work-smart-girls-guide#alternative-bo-hacks 25 www.growforagecookferment.com

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longer the better). Strain out the herbal material with a fine mesh sieve when ready to use.

FOR THE DEODORANT Ingredients •

1/2 cup herb-infused oil (see above)

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2 ounces beeswax

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1 ounce shea butter

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20 - 30 drops essential oils of your choice (I like to use 10 drops each of lavender, sage and sweet orange)

•

2 tbsp arrowroot powder

•

2 tsp baking soda (optional, replace with more arrowroot if you omit)

Instructions 1. Put the infused oil and beeswax into the top container of a double boiler, and stir as the beeswax melts. (Tip: you can make a double boiler with a smaller pot, bowl, or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over an inch or so of simmering water. If you use glass Pyrex, put something in the bottom of the pot that it can rest on, such as a canning jar lid).

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2. Once the beeswax has completely melted, add the shea butter and stir until it dissolves.

3. Remove the mixture from the double boiler and stir in the essential oils, then stir in the arrowroot powder and baking soda. Keep stirring for a minute or two to thoroughly combine. The mixture will begin to thicken slightly.

4. Pour the mixture into empty deodorant containers or half-circle molds.

Let the deodorant set up for a few hours before using.

This recipe makes about 8 ounces of deodorant in total.

Homemade shampoo bars We are surrounded by so many choices that are available on the market.

But there are almost no purely natural suggestions that are environmentally friendly and health-oriented. That's why we offer homemade shampoo bars as a good idea.26 Ingredients •

3 teaspoons cocoa butter

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2 teaspoons cetyl alcohol

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1 tablespoon coconut oil

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½ pound goat milk melt-and-pour soap base

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1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

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1 teaspoon organic argan oil

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1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

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1 teaspoon baking soda

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1 teaspoon sea salt

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10 drops lavender essential oil

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10 drops tea tree essential oil

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10 drops rosemary essential oil

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10 drops peppermint essential oil

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¼ cup crushed lavender petals (optional; you can use a spice grinder, coffee grinder or mortar and pestle)

26 www.happy-mothering.com

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•

Soap colorant (optional)

•

Double boiler

Directions 1. Add the cetyl alcohol, coconut oil and cocoa butter to a double boiler over medium heat, stirring frequently until all ingredients are completely melted.

2. Cut the melt-and-pour soap base into cubes, and add it to the double boiler, stirring until completely melted and well combined.

3. Stir the apple cider vinegar, sea salt, baking soda, Vitamin E and argan oil into the mixture in the double boiler.

4. Add the essential oils, and stir to combine.

5. Add a few drops of soap colorant if you like, and stir to combine.

6. Stir in the crushed lavender, reserving about 2 tablespoons (optional).

7. Sprinkle a bit of crushed lavender into each cavity of the soap mold (optional).

8. Gently pour the shampoo bar mixture into your silicone mold.

9. Spray the top of the mold with a spritz of rubbing alcohol to dissipate any bubbles.

10. Allow your homemade shampoo bars to harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until completely cool. Store the shampoo bars in an airtight glass container until you’re ready to use them.

“No-poo” chickpea shampoo You can make shampoo simply by mixing chickpea flour and water! Massage it into wet hair and rinse!27 “No-poo” rye shampoo Place 2 tablespoons of rye flour into a jar, pour 1 cup of boiling water over and stir. Let it cool down, and strain with a fine strainer or cloth. Use it as a regular shampoo. 28

27 www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuEHZzcseA 28 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7Xhe82kAA&t=14s

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Our next recipe is related to hair masks. If you want silky and smooth hair, you should try this homemade hair mask. For it you need the following ingredients.29 •

Yoghurt – will make your hair soft

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Olive oil

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Honey

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Vitamin E capsules

Steps to follow: 1. Place yoghurt in a bowl – vary the amount according to your hair length.

2. Add 1 spoon of olive oil and mix it.

3. Add 1 more spoon of olive oil and mix it again.

4. Add 1 spoon of honey and mix it.

5. Add oil of 2 vitamin E capsules into this.

6. Mix all nicely.

7. Leave for 5 minutes, and your hair mask is ready.

Apply this mask to your hair and scalp, and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Shampoo your hair.

This mask will -

Make your hair soft and silky

-

Fight against dandruff and scalp infections

-

Boost your hair growth

If you want hydrated, exfoliated and awesome-scented skin, we present the following recipe for home coffee vanilla scrub for the body.

Ingredients: •

1/2 cup coconut oil

•

1 1/4 cups sugar

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3/4 cup finely ground coffee

29 www.glowpink.com

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•

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions: Measure out your coconut oil, and if it’s not already melted, melt it over low heat in a pot until liquid. Let it cool a bit. While the coconut oil is melting, mix the sugar and coffee grounds together in a bowl. Pour in the melted oil and vanilla, and stir to combine. Go a little easy on the oil until you know you need it all. You want the mixture to be wet but not soupy or liquid at all. If it does get too wet, just add a little more sugar and coffee until you are happy. Seal in an airtight container between uses.30 We all know that summer can be really harsh on our skin, and we want our skin moisturized and smooth. The lips are a very sensitive part of the body, and it is important to take care of them too. Now we are going to share a summer recipe for raspberry lip balm. It is a perfect recipe for moisture and care.31 Ingredients: •

1 teaspoon beeswax pellets

•

1 teaspoon shea butter

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1 teaspoon coconut oil

•

1/2 teaspoon honey (I use raw honey)

•

1 - 2 drops raspberry flavoring

•

1/4 teaspoon red or pink lipstick (optional)

Instructions: 1. Place the beeswax pellets, shea butter, coconut oil and honey in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 10-second increments until it is melted.

2. Stir to combine.

3. Add the raspberry flavouring, and the lipstick if desired. Stir to combine.

4. Pour into lip balm tins and let cool.

These are just simple examples of recipes that are very easy to make, and are made from all-natural ingredients. In this way, we take part in the Zero 30 www.abeautifullmess.com 31 www.Frugalfamilyhome.com

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Waste way of life, which is both healthy and cares for the environment. There are many other recipes you can find on the internet. The first steps in Zero Waste homemade cosmetics are exciting, and will enlighten you and help you towards a much more interesting and healthy lifestyle, in balance with nature.

Complementary and alternative medicine32

Medicine can be conventional (mainstream), complementary (alongside conventional) and alternative (instead of conventional).

Conventional medicine consists mostly of drugs and surgery.

Other treatments such as nutritional therapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, aromatherapy, acupuncture and herbal medicine are part of complementary and alternative medicine.

32 Resources: 1. What is conventional medicine? www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-is-conventional-medicine 2. New Approaches to Nutritional Therapy www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2976542/ 3. Елена Туманова “Энциклопедия эфирных масел” www.litres.ru/elena-tumanova-2/enciklopediya-efirnyh-masel/ chitat-onlayn/ 4. Zero Waste Cold Remedies Using Common Kitchen Ingredients www.reusablenation.com/zero-waste-living/zerowaste-all-natural-cold-remedies 5. What Are the Different Types of Massages? www.healthline.com/health/types-of-massage#couples 6. How does acupuncture work? www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488.php#how_does_it_work

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Traditional remedies are now increasingly in demand as they are quick and affordable. Pharmacology is often not friendly to people or the environment, because the drugs are made from synthetic materials and don’t solve the problem itself, only suppressing the symptoms. Also, plastic and foil blister packs aren’t recyclable and create a lot of waste. If you have a serious illness you should of course follow a doctor's prescription, but for cases of mild ailments, we can often find healthy Zero Waste alternatives.

Complementary and alternative medicine can help us to prevent and cure illnesses, as well as maintain our health.

Nutritional therapy can be useful for preventing some diseases, and is great supportive therapy. For example, nutrition inevitably plays an important role in type 2 diabetes. Your diet must provide adequate amounts of energy, macro- (protein, carbohydrates, fat) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), water and dietary fibre.

Tips for making positive changes in nutritional self-care: •

Eat whole and unprocessed vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes, grains and raw nuts/seeds. Other options are organic animal products and small wild fish.

•

Eat a variety of whole foods, rather than paying attention to calories, carbohydrates and fats.

•

Avoid anti-nutrients ( food products that have no biological necessity) such as sugars, artificial sweeteners, highly processed fats, refined flour products, preservatives and junk food.

Aromatherapy How does it work?

Aromatic oils are composed of an oily substance and essential components: •

Oily substances are easily absorbed through the skin.

•

Essential components cause a physiological reaction to the smell.

Why use it?

Essential oils can be used internally and externally for: •

pain treatment

•

suppressing of inflammatory reactions

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•

reducing and increasing blood pressure

•

refreshing

•

calming

•

as antidepressants, deodorants, antiseptics and aphrodisiacs.

Uses: •

Toning, intellectual activity, creativity: rosemary and ginseng oil

•

Irritability, neurosis, insomnia, overwork: lavender, cloves, wormwood, valerian oil

•

Diuretic effect: fennel, lavender

•

Antispasmodic: laurel, wormwood, hops, saffron, mint, almond, lemon oil

•

Antibacterial: eucalyptus, sage, thyme, juniper, geranium, tea tree, pine oil

Attention!

•

Be careful with the use of essential oils during pregnancy.

•

For children, use only mild essential oils.

•

Remember individual intolerances in the body.

•

Oils are not a panacea for all diseases, and if used improperly, they can have the opposite effect.

Herbal medicine Going Zero Waste is also about going back to nature and finding natural ingredients to fight the flu, cold and general sickness, and to boost your immune system. Most ingredients are found unpackaged in a grocery or health food store.

Headaches Common causes are hunger, lack of fresh air, dehydration and exhaustion, so firstly try drinking water, getting some fresh air and resting your eyes and mind.

Some teas that help clear a sore head: •

basil tea (3 - 4 fresh basil leaves in a cup of boiling water)

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•

chamomile tea (it is a mild sedative!)

•

add fresh slices of ginger root to your cup of tea

•

cinnamon tea: pour 1 cup of boiling water over a handful of fresh lavender flowers and half a teaspoon of cinnamon and let sit for 30 60 minutes, then strain, add a teaspoon of honey and drink.

If you feel the first signs of a cold, get as much sleep and drink as much water and eat as many veggies as possible, to help your body fight it.

Natural cold remedies help to increase your immunity and to cure a sore throat: •

water and lemon

•

turmeric and hot water (you can add honey too)

•

sage tea

•

liquorice or marshmallow root tea

•

crushed ginger, lemon, honey and hot water (you can also add some turmeric and cinnamon)

•

top sliced red onions, chopped ginger and turmeric with honey (just so it covers the rest of the ingredients), let it sit for about 20 minutes and use as you would a cough syrup (for coughs)

•

simmer a thumb-sized piece of grated ginger, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 whole lemon in a cup of water on the stove

•

heat honey in a pot very slowly until liquid, add cloves, pepper, anise and saffron, and put this warm mixture in a jar with fresh turmeric, ginger, and lemon zest – you can add it to a warm ginger tea or just eat it with a spoon

•

mix 1 - 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger, 1 squeezed lemon, olive oil (about the same amount as the lemon), 1 - 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of honey, and drink 2 to 3 teaspoons after every meal

Zero Waste cold remedy ingredients: •

a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

•

1 - 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped garlic

•

1 - 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped ginger

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•

pinch of cayenne pepper

•

squeeze of half a lemon

•

tablespoon of honey

•

1 - 2 pinches of pink himalayan salt

•

2 - 3 drops of echinacea

•

2 - 3 drops oil of oregano

Massage therapy What is a massage?

Massage is the practice of rubbing and kneading the body using the hands with gentle or strong pressure on the muscles to ease pain and tension.

•

Swedish massage is a gentle type of full-body massage: can help release muscle knots and the whole body.

•

Hot stone massage is used against muscle pain and tension or for relaxation: eases muscle tension or pain; improves blood flow; relaxes and relieves stress.

•

Trigger point massage is for people who have injuries, chronic pain or other conditions: focuses on relieving trigger points, can reduce pain.

•

Reflexology is best for people who are looking to relax or restore their natural energy levels. Reflexology uses gentle to firm pressure on different pressure points of the feet, hands and ears.

•

Shiatsu massage is a Japanese massage that promotes emotional and physical calm and relaxation, relieves headache, reduces muscle tension.

•

Thai massage is to reduce and relieve pain and stress. It can also help improve circulation and energy levels. This massage works the entire body using a sequence of movements that are similar to yogic stretching.

•

Gua sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. It contributes to better health, and reduces chronic pain. It is performed on a person’s back, buttocks, neck, face, arms and legs.

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Acupuncture For this type of therapy, you must visit a specialist. An acupuncturist inserts needles into a person's body with the aim of balancing their energy. This helps to boost wellbeing, and may cure some illnesses.

It is used to reduce different kinds of pain, such as headaches, blood pressure problems and whooping cough, among others.

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Inside your mind Environmental activism33 Nika Krychovska

“

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

33 www.conserve-energy-future.com/importance-types-examples-environmental-activism.php

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Any movement begins with the non-acceptance of established rules that are dictated by a certain system. Some daily triggers that are related to the quality of our routine leave us unsatisfied or even angry. Many of these are the result of incompetent action by the responsible institutions or facilities. But what do we do with our anger? The majority of us just swallow this feeling and continue to be unhappy for the rest of our lives. But you, reading this book, are not in the majority. So ask yourself a question: can you transform your destructive emotions into action, and use this as a source of motivation? Consider this a

little introduction to how social activism works. To bring it into the ecological context, let’s look at the definition of environmental activism.

Environmental activism refers to the activity of various individuals or organizations with the agenda of protecting the environment. These people and organizations are collectively part of the green movement, green living or environmental sustainability. There are three types of environmental activism: segmentary, polycentric and networked. Segmentary means that the organization consists of a diverse group who come together with a common interest. Polycentric means that groups have multiple and often temporary centres of influence. Lastly, networked activism is called this because it has a loose, integrated and reticulate network that has multiple linkages formed through overlapping membership.

If you decide to take your first steps in eco-activism at your local level, you can use a toolkit on project management.

Imagine your hometown. What do you want to optimize? What resources do you need to relize it? What risks are you going to deal with? How many people

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are going to be in your team? What is your timing? Visualize all these questions using the Zero Waste concept. By that we mean replacing paper with phone applications to make notes. This is a useful habit for observing the real course of your organizational process. Gathering all your ideas together helps you not to overlook essential nuances.

We always emphasize the importance of research. Make use of databases of eco-initiatives and organizations, such as the WWF, international nature friends and Break Free From Plastic.

To sum up, we just want to say that every action, even the smallest, is valid for the global set-up. Keep moving and inspire people among you – maybe with your first Zero Waste Expo like we did in Croatia!

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Communication about Zero Waste Annika Fox, Iva ilicic If you are trying to live Zero Waste, you have probably encountered difficulties in communication with other people.

This is why the following chapter will be a helpful toolkit for these situations.

First of all, some dos and don'ts: DO

DON’T

listen (actively)

not pay attention

understand

judge

be empathetic

attack

be clear

use technical language

ask questions

give unwanted advice

have an open mind

avoid the concerns of the other person

provide feedback

Additionally, body language and tone of voice are important factors. For example, eye-rolling, crossed arms and a raised voice will only close off the other person to whatever you have to say, so it is important to watch your own attitude at all times.

Moreover, one cannot know how much someone else is contributing to solving environmental issues. Some people might not share their input or contributions openly, so always have an open mind, ask and listen.

Communication tools Concrete communication tools can be as simple as eye contact and phrases like "I understand" or "For me, personally, this works, but it might not work for you" in order to ease the pressure. In addition, trying to exchange a phrase

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such as "No, you're not right" with a more empathetic approach such as "Yes, this is difficult, but you could try…" might be helpful in a discussion.

Finally, to conclude your conversation, always leave an open door for the person. This is possible through sentences like: "If you ever need help or information about the topic, you can always come to me."

Personal questions with Teodora Garkova Lyubomira Litsanova Why did you choose this lifestyle?

"I believe, if everyone gets involved in this movement, we can help our surroundings as well as ourselves."

In what ways has this lifestyle helped you in general?

"It has changed me for the better as many eco-products are healthier anyway, so I helped nature and my health simultaneously."

What bad habits do you still have, and why don't you change them?

"Smoking, for example, as it is bad for the environment as well as causing various ailments. Additionally, it affects passive smokers. As I am addicted to smoking, it is quite hard to give it up, and sometimes I simply don't want to."

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What needs to be done as an incentive for other people to become interested in Zero Waste?

"An idea would be to give them some tax relief or remuneration."

What sort of events or campaigns could be organised?

"For children, it would be a great idea to organise a "waste separation competition" with prizes as a fun way to learn about the topic."

Differences between what you want and what you need A need is defined by its necessity. Humans need water they would not survive without it.

A want, on the other hand, is a feeling of desire.

Not every want is necessary, not every need is generally wanted.

Concerning the subject of Zero Waste, I believe, waste is often something unnecessary, so nothing one needs.

A good example of this would be a plastic bag for fruit and vegetables. It is utterly unnecessary as most fruit, for example, has natural packaging (the skin/shell/peel).

Though in some cases you might want a plastic bag, because you forgot to bring your own bag and it's too heavy to carry your purchases without one, you would still not need the bag. One solution would be to not buy as many things at once, and come back later with your own bag, because that would also mean you could learn from the mistake.

So between wanting and needing something, there is often a choice, and it is up to you to decide what is more important in that moment.

This all has a psychological dimension as well. Of course it is understandable to want things that you don't need, but if you start to think about it, why would someone want anything they don't need at all? It is a problem with

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our luxurious first world: we are used to having and getting things we don't need. It is all about our perspective on consumption, and how the media/ commercials make us believe we need things that aren't necessary.

Connecting with nature Iva Iličić Nowadays, people are very disconnected. Not only from nature, but also from themselves. In my opinion, this comes from the fast lifestyle people lead these days, and from changes in values that have occured over the last few decades.

In my experience, it is clear that reconnecting with nature leads to a happier, healthier life.

My parents, for example, worked in big companies for years, and they always seemed empty and exhausted from the corporate system that drains peoples' spirits. About 15 years ago they decided to buy a piece of land and start farming, and I must say the change I have seen is unbelievable. The mom and dad I knew don't exist anymore. The grumpy and overweight dad I had is now around 15 kg lighter, and he always has a smile on his face. The drained, tense mom i knew turned into a happy, relaxed "young" lady.

So, how to reconnect with yourself and with nature without changing your whole life? I would recommend a few things you can do every day, week or even once a year, which don't require a big change, but could be very helpful: •

take a walk in the park

•

start gardening

•

visit a national park

•

pay more attention to the nature that is around you every day

•

go outside for 20 - 30 minutes and turn on all of your senses

•

stargaze

•

hug a tree

It doesn't take a lot of effort to connect with nature, and when you finally do, you will find that you feel better very quickly.

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Greenwashing 1. Greenwashing is a marketing mechanism that makes companies look more ecologically conscious than they really are. Usually, this kind of marketing works because people want to buy eco-friendly products but don’t have time to do research or a fact check. For example, Coca Cola advertised a so-called “plant bottle”, but couldn’t provide proof, and it was later discovered that the bottles were only partially plantbased.

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2. 7 sins (or criteria) of greenwashing: If you see a product that claims to be “eco-friendly”, here are 7 criteria that you can check: a. Hidden trade-off: Not all aspects are taken into account, and although some are good, others are not. For example, paper packaging is not always more eco-friendly than plastic, because the paper-making process leads to green-house emissions and uses chlorine for bleaching. b. No proof: There is no information that can support the ecological claim – e.g. the Coke bottles. c. Vagueness: The claim is too general, and can be misunderstood – for example, “all natural”, “100% green”, etc., which is often printed on meat. d. Worshiping false labels: For example, a lot of multilayer packaging producers put the “PP” label on it, while it contains other materials and therefore cannot be recycled. e. Irrelevance: Some claims can be true but not important. For example, “GMO free” or “CFC free” (CFCs are banned by law). f. Lesser of 2 evils: Some claims may be true but at the same time distract from the greater environmental effect. For example, Nespresso considers itself to be sustainable because it’s a member in the AAA Sustainable Quality Program, but this programme refers only to the harvest of coffee. At the same time, the company produces huge amounts of trash with the produced capsules. g. Fibbing: The claim is just a lie. For example, Volkswagen was cheating on the emissions tests, while advertising itself as a low-emissions vehicle producer.

3. A lot of companies greenwash not on purpose but because they lack life-cycle thinking (in terms of where their materials come from, and what happens to the product when it’s out of use). So, if you want to fight against greenwashing and are in favor of real sustainability, you can do this by following these 4 steps: d. Post about a specific greenwashing case online, and tag the company.

This way you can put a lot of pressure on the company.

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e. Inform family and friends. If more people are aware of the problem, it’s easier to fight. f. Get to know sustainable labels so you can search for them in your everyday life. g. Buy at shops that are known for honest advertising.

So to end off this chapter, we will look at some companies to examine whether they greenwash or not.

The first is Ecosia. This is a search engine like Google, but they use their profits to plant trees. It sounds too good not to be greenwashing. At the time of writing (November 2019), they have paid for more than 75 million trees to be planted, mostly in South America, Africa and Asia. The trees are planted by various organizations and by themselves, but also by a 3rd party. 47% of their total revenue is used to plant trees, which becomes 80% if you subtract the operating costs.

They openly state that their system is based on Bing, which produces a lot of CO2 emissions, but also that every search removes 1kg of CO2 from the atmosphere.

So all in all, Ecosia seems legit and trustworthy, and should not be accused of greenwashing.

The next example is Nespresso. This is a company owned by Nestlé that sells small coffee capsules.

The problem with these capsules is that for every 200 g of coffee, 100 g of aluminium and plastic trash are produced. The company is trying to create a positive image by reusing the aluminium for special products, e.g. pens or bicycle tyres, but these are often very limited, and are used mostly for marketing purposes. As mentioned above, they produce around 80% within the AAA Sustainable Quality Program, but this doesn't reduce the problems their trash creates.

On the other side of this argument, they have opened special shops where you can give back your old capsules, and they could use them all in the recycling process. But they are not all used to that extent, and it remains partly the user's responsibility to return them.

In conclusion, we have to assert that Nespresso, unfortunately, is an example of greenwashing, and you shouldn't use these capsules if you want to reduce the waste you're creating.

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Test your “carbon footprint” Yuliia Pozniak A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases produced by a particular human activity (individual, event, organization or product).

On the internet you can find different “carbon footprint calculators” to work out your own carbon footprint.

There are, for example: •

Footprint calculator from WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) – UK average

The questionnaire is divided into four sections: -

Food: diet, food waste and buying habits.

-

Home: energy type and usage in the house, and the use of energysaving measures.

-

Travel: personal and public transport usage for leisure and work, and flights.

-

Stuff: purchases of consumable items.

•

Carbon Footprint Calculator from SC Johnson & Son, Inc. – US average

This is a personal carbon calculator, and it focuses on everyday areas of most influence – your residential energy, personal travel and dietary emissions.

Here you can see your carbon footprint equivalent to trees: •

Footprint Calculator from Global Footprint Network

This calculator shows your personal Earth Overshoot Day and how many earths you would need if everyone lived like you. The Ecological Footprint is derived by tracking how much biologically productive area is used to provide for people's competing demands.

How does the test work?

The programme calculates your carbon footprint based on comparison with other people and countries.

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What’s the purpose?

The test will show the extent to which your everyday activity influences carbon emissions, and how you can improve the situation. This is a good way of visually showing a rough idea of your impact.

Every test gives you tips and steps you can take for the reduction of your carbon footprint. The most common are: •

Food: cut down on meat and dairy; reduce food waste; eat locally and “in season”

•

Travel: use public transport or bicycles, or walk; fly direct; drive less

•

Energy: switch to renewable sources; take a short shower; switch off the lights

•

Other: reuse things, choose the best quality, etc.

Questions and answers We want to challenge you and see how much you already know about Zero Waste. Try to answer the following questions, or just enjoy learning more about Zero Waste by reading the answers below!

What are the main benefits of Zero Waste?

Zero Waste reduces our climate impact.

Zero Waste conserves resources and minimizes pollution.

Zero Waste promotes social equity and builds community.

Zero Waste supports a local circular economy and creates jobs.

What does Zero Waste living mean?

Zero-waste living means aiming to reduce landfill-bound trash to the bare minimum – a worthy goal considering that a plastic bag could take up to 1 000 years to decompose in a landfill. When you look through your trash, you'll probably find discards that could be recycled, reused or repurposed.

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Who started Zero Waste?

Bea Johnson is founder of the Zero Waste Lifestyle Movement. Bea Johnson and her family are dedicated to living a Zero Waste lifestyle; they generate a mere quart of waste per year.

How do I get started with Zero Waste?

There are a few steps to get started: •

Keep "the 5Rs" in mind.

•

Learn to say no to the little things.

•

Start eating real food.

•

Try using less of everything.

•

Join Zero Waste communities for support.

•

Reuse water bottles.

•

BYOJ (Bring Your Own Jars)

•

Use textile bags and totes.

Is recycling part of Zero Waste?

The idea behind Zero Waste is creating no waste, and sending nothing to landfill. That does not mean buying everything in recyclable packaging and simply recycling it. Recycling is not a perfect solution, and still uses huge amounts of resources and energy.

What is the Zero Waste Challenge?

Zero Waste Challenge: Home Edition. Since 2013, the Waste Management Phoenix Open has strived to achieve Zero Waste, meaning everything used throughout the weeklong event (from food and drinks to building materials and signage) is either reused, recycled, composted, donated or used to create energy.

What is a Zero Waste Management Programme?

Zero Waste is a whole system approach to resource management centred on reducing, reusing and recycling. To make recycling work for everyone, we need to buy products made from the materials we recycle. The goal of Zero Waste is to: Maximize recycling. Minimize waste. Reduce consumption.

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How can we consume less waste?

17 Tips to use less plastic: 1. Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw.

2. Use a reusable produce bag. A single plastic bag can take 1 000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce bags, and be sure to wash them often!

3. Give up gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, aka plastic.

4. Buy boxes instead of bottles. Often, products like laundry detergent come in cardboard, which is more easily recycled than plastic.

5. Purchase food such as cereal, pasta and rice from bulk bins, and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging.

6. Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk.

7. Use a reusable bottle or mug for your beverages, even when ordering from a to-go shop.

8. Bring your own container for take-out or your restaurant doggy-bag, since many restaurants use styrofoam.

9. Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters, or invest in a refillable metal lighter.

10. Avoid buying frozen foods, because their packaging is mostly plastic.

Even those that appear to be cardboard are coated in a thin layer of plastic. Plus you'll be eating fewer processed foods!

11. Don't use plasticware at home. and be sure to request that restaurants do not pack them in your take-out box.

12. Ask your local grocer to take your plastic containers (for berries, tomatoes, etc.) back. If you shop at a farmers' market, they can refill them for you.

13. The EPA estimates that 7.6 billion pounds of disposable diapers are discarded in the USA each year. Use cloth diapers to reduce your baby's carbon footprint and save money.

14. Make freshly squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It's healthier and better for the environment.

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15. Make your own cleaning products that will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of cleaner.

16. Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Also, opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single-serving cups.

17. Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor.

How can we achieve Zero Waste?

Here are 101 Zero Waste tips: 1. Ask for no straw in your drink order when out.

2. Don't leave your house without a full reusable water bottle.

3. Ditch tissues for handkerchiefs.

4. Pick up a lonely banana.

5. Always say "no thank you" to free promotional items. They tend to be cheap and break easily.

6. Get a library card to support your local sharing economy.

7. Donate unused items in good condition to support the second-hand market.

8. Think second-hand first when purchasing something.

9. Try elderberry syrup if you feel a cold coming on, instead of immediately reaching for a plastic pill bottle.

10. Swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush.

11. Turn old sheets and towels into handkerchiefs, rags, napkins and cloth produce bags.

12. Build a Zero Waste kit and put in the trunk of your car or carry it with you when you're out so you'll always be prepared. It doesn't have to be large – just a few items!

13. Wash clothes when they are actually dirty, instead of after only one wear.

14. Open a window to cool down your home or air it out.

15. Try to avoid palm oil.

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16. Buy food without packaging, or minimal packaging.

17. Instead of buying something when you're having a bad day, do something – go for a walk, take a yoga class, meet up with a friend.

18. Repurpose stale bread.

19. Make dry shampoo to stretch between washes.

20. Surround yourself with items that serve multiple purposes to streamline and cut excess junk.

21. Commit to taking your reusable bags to the store. If you don't have them, turn around and go get them! After forgetting them once, you won't do it again.

22. Try canning to preserve food.

23. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap – it tends to come with less packaging.

24. Swap disposable pads and tampons for cloth pads or a menstrual cup.

25. Change light bulbs to LEDs. 26. Be mindful when using technology.

27. Take reusable produce bags for fruits and veggies.

28. Put on a sweater and socks before turning up the heat.

29. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.

30. Don't buy anything impulsively!

31. Try making your own lotion.

32. Check out your farmers' market.

33. Make your own face mask from stuff in your pantry.

34. Try cloth diapering.

35. Get some houseplants at a local nursery to purify your air, and don't forget to return the little plastic pots!

36. Get rid of pests naturally.

37. Make a meal plan to avoid food waste.

38. Unplug electronics when not in use.

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39. Try making tooth powder to avoid unrecyclable toothpaste tubes.

40. Buy more locally made goods.

41. Repair something when it breaks.

42. If you're looking for a specialty item, like camping gear or an extra table for a party, ask a friend if you can borrow one before making a purchase.

43. Plant a small garden.

44. Learn how to freeze your food without plastic so it doesn't go to waste.

45. Make your own febreze spray to freshen your room for pennies!

46. Start a backyard compost bin of heap.

47. Swap little plastic chapstick tubes for DIY lip balm.

48. Surround yourself with tools and items that are meant to last a lifetime.

Try to only buy objects once.

49. Try your hand at an easy all-purpose cleaning spray.

50. Look into collecting rainwater or a greywater system.

51. Store your food properly to make it last longer.

52. Find your local cobbler to repair tired shoes.

53. Know where everything you buy comes from, whether it be food, clothing or other household goods.

54. Ask for no plastic and reused packaging materials for online orders.

55. Pack your lunch instead of eating out every day.

56. Reduce your meat consumption. If you're not ready to go vegetarian, start small: try Meatless Monday, weekday vegetarian, or even weekday vegan.

57. Learn to regrow kitchen scraps.

58. Line-dry a load instead of using the dryer.

59. Try homemade mouthwash.

60. Ditch plastic shower loofahs for a real loofah or a bamboo bath brush.

61. Ask for a real mug at the coffee shop when staying in.

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62. Always run a full dishwasher or load of clothes.

63. Most sunscreen causes coral bleaching – go coral friendly!

64. Bring your own container for to-go food and leftovers.

65. Ditch paper towels and use tea towels and rags.

66. Beware of greenwashing – always do your research.

67. Make your own deodorant.

68. If it's a 30-minute or less walk, get outside instead of driving.

69. Vote with your dollars for a sustainable future.

70. Bring your own to-go cup when getting coffee on the run.

71. Look into tree-free TP. 72. Learn how to repair a button or hem to extend the life of your clothing.

73. Look into rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.

74. Serve dinner with cloth napkins.

75. Eat more vegetables and legumes.

76. Keep a bucket in the shower to water plants or flush the toilet.

77. Wrap presents in newsprint or not at all!

78. Swap cotton rounds for reusable rounds.

79. Focus on experiences rather than things.

80. Switch from a plastic disposable razor to a metal safety razor.

81. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.

82. Make homemade gifts to give to friends and family.

83. Try Wheatless Wednesdays to cut back on intensive grain farming.

84. Avoid junk mail by placing a sticker on your box or going to dmachoice. org.

85. Keep a stocked pantry to avoid getting takeout on busy nights.

86. Learn where to properly dispose of items like gift cards, old cellphones, batteries and unusable cords – some can be turned in at Best Buy etc.

87. Find your local tailor to help with clothing repairs.

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88. Ask yourself if you truly need it before making any purchases.

89. Go paperless for all your bills!

90. Swap don't shop! Host a clothing swap with friends.

91. Pick up litter when you're out and dispose of it properly.

92. Make your morning cup of coffee with a French press or pour over with a reusable filter to avoid extra waste.

93. Ditch plastic q-tips for plastic-free or reusable.

94. Ditch sponges in lieu of compostable scrubs or brushes.

95. Try to shrink the amount you recycle. Zero Waste is about recycling less, not more.

96. Use both sides of the paper!

97. Avoid receipts when out – ask if one has to be printed. Sometimes they do, but not always!

98. Take public transit if available, or carpool.

99. Join a community garden.

100. Swap tea bags for loose leaf tea in a reusable strainer.

101. Take my favorite Zero Waste switch: look at installing a bidet attachment.

Where could you find additional information, and even participate in such projects?

If you are interested in ecological problems and how to find different solutions, or you just want to learn something new and interesting, as well as have great experiences in a different community from your own country, I recommend you immerse yourself through challenges like participating in events such as conferences or presentations, or even exchanges.

Here I’m adding several portals where you can find the topic that suits you best, and have a chance to be part of the real action! And all without any taxes or payments…

And they are as follows: •

https://www.salto-youth.net/

•

https://solidarus.eu/en/international-youth-exchanges.html

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You also are going to develop your personal skills effortlessly, and extend your knowledge beyond your expectations. You are probably going to find like-minded people with whom you could collaborate on ideas, and recognize friends in.

If you want to learn more about sustainable goals and why they exist at all you should check this web page.

And if you’re already a student or you’re going be soon, see this one. There are a lot of opportunities with Erasmus Student Network, and especially in the areas you are interested in…

I’d like to say that – the biggest change comes from the best examples!

To grow and to succeed you can keep to one rule: “Think local, grow global”.

Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between goals and actions. Why? If you have read the Sustainable Development Goals, you will know that the 6th and 7th are connected to problems with waste and the poor quality of natural resources such as water. What is your government doing?

Governments try to collaborate with the private sector and to implement the instruments with which they will improve social behavior and the internal corporate environment.

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But this isn’t enough. Governments have to provide an example for the private sector, as they change their own behaviour. In Europe, employees in the public sector form up to 20% of the population as a whole. If governments enforce sustainable policies, the people working in this sector will change their habits in the work arena. They will then spread these habits slowly to family members at home, so that the percentage of citizens who are involved could increase by nearly 2.5 times. At this point, the private sector will have no choice, because of the changes being demanded, and they will have to rethink their policies and hopefully change for the better.

It’s better to make changes from the inside than the outside, because that is the most natural way. At the moment, the share of the GDP from the private sector is nearly 80%, which means that corporations can pressure governments to accept politics and policies that benefit the owners of these companies rather than society. Most people don’t know what instruments they hold in their hands, and governments must show them by example.

Of course, there are some people who wouldn’t choose to change anything, but they are very few, and in some cases they may not feel able to choose… for example, people who want to eat unhealthy snacks!

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More about the project “Go Zero, Danube!” is a youth exchange programme focusing on Zero Waste and green entrepreneurship that was implemented between 2018 and 2021.

In each of the four meetings, 15 - 20 youth from the Danube region discussed current problems in waste reduction, and tried to tackle the challenge.

They got to know green start-ups and young entrepreneurs in the field of environmental protection and sustainable consumption. The meetings included experiential educational elements, Zero Waste self-sufficiency, workshops, an open event and social media activities. Together with the participants, a website and a toolkit with the results will be developed and published.

Promoting European citizenship The topic of environment and waste prevention affects everyone, and is an opportunity to break down intercultural barriers and to meet with young adults from different European countries at eye level. It is about exploring new ways of sustainable coexistence, regardless of origin and language.

The groups were accompanied by experienced team leaders who were already been experienced in the field. The participants keep in touch in established networks, and are encouraged to participate in educational work as multipliers beyond the project.

Why green entrepreneurship matters During the exchanges, we focused on the importance of green businesses, and how each one of us could make a difference with a Zero Waste start-up.

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Before starting to brainstorm ideas for future businesses, it is important to clarify some distinctions between the different types of entrepreneurial activities and their goals. Specifically, it is important to note the important differences between the more typical commercial entrepreneurship, and green entrepreneurship.

Commercial entrepreneurship is mostly oriented towards generating profit. The goal of this type of business is the production of goods or services in order to generate revenue, which is usually reinvested in the business or distributed between shareholders. However, in any entrepreneurial activity, the entrepreneur should aim to offer products and services of a higher quality than their competitors, and care about their employees by providing remuneration and favourable working conditions. The main focus of such a business is generating financial resources.

Green entrepreneurship as part of social entrepreneurship is a business model that follows similar principles to commercial entrepreneurship, but with a focus on providing a solution to an environmental issue such as climate change, loss of rainforests and biodiversity or water pollution. In other words, green entrepreneurship is a type of activity where the business model serves as an instrument to solve an environmental problem. The most important aspect is therefore not generating products of higher value, but generating

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a solution to the problem. The philosophy behind green entrepreneurship is that profit is not the final goal of the business activity, but acts as a means to achieve the final goal of making our world a better place.

During the exchanges, we introduced problem-and-solution trees, business canvas and the importance of values. During the exchange, the participants had the chance to meet local and international entrepreneurs, such as Ribhu from Wasteless, Zero Waste Your Life and Zero Waste Society.

We encourage young green entrepreneurs to undertake research within their surroundings, in order to connect with other entrepreneurs and find supporters and networks. The following exercise is also useful to let participants reflect on their local surroundings.

The online mapping project “Mapping for Good” offers a useful resource for all kinds of sustainable enterprises and initiatives in the field of Zero Waste. It is open source, and can be used for all sorts of sustainable mapping purposes. You can easily make new entries, leave comments and adjust past entries. The more hashtags like #zerowaste you leave, the easier it is to connect with others. The open-source project “mapping for good” tool is made for people like us, to become more visible as well as to explore new places and people.

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Testimonies Anna Ćaleta

My experience is that the Zero Waste lifestyle is fun and dynamic!

You connect with so many interesting people, you strengthen the local economy and live with more connection to the earth. My tip for you is to start doing the least you can do for a better environment, and build on that little by little. A single person can't do much, but many individuals can influence their families, friends neighbours, communities and perhaps government and corporations to make changes that are positive for the planet we all share.

Inna Chashchyna

One of the eco-friendly things that I use in my daily life is a stick deodorant in a carton box by Ben&Anna. An additional bonus is that Ben&Anna supports the Ocean Cleanup initiative. Ocean Cleanup is developing a passive system, using natural oceanic forces to catch and concentrate plastic.

Anna Tsukanova I use a bamboo toothbrush from Ecopanda every day. No plastic, no harm for the planet. The toothbrush is made of a special type of bamboo, MOSO, grown in an ecologically clean region. It has a biodegradable base.

It completely decomposes in 3 years, and the good thing is that Pandas don't eat that type of bamboo, so they are not in danger.

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Nika Krychovska

I love doing lots of things for myself, and a few months ago I learnt how to make eco-bags. So now I sew my own bags and sell them to other "ecolovers". I make my eco-bags from old clothes that are not used anymore. They are 100% eco-friendly, and I have stopped buying plastic bags each time I go to the supermarket or any other type of shop.

Tatyana Astskhova

I'm only on the start of my journey to a Zero Waste lifestyle. Every day I read more and more about ecology, Zero Waste and green living. I've started making my own cosmetics to stop using chemicals and save money.

Anna Ponikarchuk

Zero Waste is my lifestyle – it became a part of my life a few years ago, and I still follow my heart (the voice of my heart). As a zero-waste activist I use solid shampoo from Lush.

What I personally like is that the Lush products are not tested on animals, and they don't use plastic to pack their products.

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Anastasiia Martynenko

I believe in a world without waste, where my daughter can live on a safe and clean planet. I believe that businesses, authorities and society should start acting as if this is the only planet we have, because it is. One of the items that I use all the time is a luffa sponge, which is made of natural plants.

Sophie Neckenich

I love exploring all the possibilities in the Zero Waste heaven. I am fully convinced that it is not too late to save our beautiful planet. Going Zero Waste does not only make yourself feel at ease and empowered, but also contributes to strengthening our society and the environment. And also, it's fun! I love strolling through second hand stores, finding that one-ofa-kind jacket I dreamed of; Making delicious meals out of all the leftovers in our shared fridge; bringing my beautiful personalized cup to my favorite local café. Being more conscious about my waste consumption has simplified my life enormously and every step towards Zero Waste feels like an achievement that makes me happy and hopeful.

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Implementing organizations Starkmacher e.V. (founded in 2006) is a civil society non-profit organisation and accredited stakeholder for youth support and extracurricular youth education in Germany.

It is an organisation run by and for people, who carry the promotion and development of young people‘s potential close to their hearts. The main function is to empower primarily young people and disadvantaged children, and to enable a positive reaction to lacking orientation, missing values and increasing violence.

The main areas of work cover non-formal education, global learning and youth work in various social and ethnic contexts.

Starkmacher e.V. has implemented two other projects in the Danube region before: The youth projects "Let's Bridge Danube" and "Future Lab", which have contributed to youth participation and intercultural learning.

Zero Waste Society is an NGO based in Kiev that focuses on raising awareness on waste reduction and education about sustainable alternatives to waste. Its main activities include educational events (e.g. lectures, workshops) in schools, universities, businesses and youth exchanges. The aim of the NGO’s activities is to protect the environment and human health by promoting the Zero Waste movement and responsible consumption, as well as the creation of educational informational materials and educational programmes for the purpose of dissemination of up-to-date information on the state of the ecological situation in Ukraine.

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Zero Waste Society gives workshops and holds events informing people about alternative ways of consumption and waste reduction.

D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics is a leading higher education institution of economics and business in Bulgaria with more than 80 years of history, 145 000 alumni and a well-established reputation in education and science. The sustainable development concept is incorporated in most of our initiatives, projects and study programmes. The partnership arose in 2016 when the German-Ukranian project group “Let's Bridge Danube” visited the academy in Svishtov to find out more about Bulgarian youth’s challenges and perspectives. The academy was an important partner in the past project “Future Lab” bringing together youth from various Danube countries to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial ideas.

D'Avent is a Romanian Non-Profit Organization working on promoting sustainable living by growing and supporting successful active communities. We act towards promoting a circular economy and becoming a flagship for the upcycling movement in Romania by empowering communities to act for sustainable development and responsible consumption.

Creative recycling means for D'Avent passionate people transforming objects, materials and all kinds of stuff into interesting and useful things, or simply to create pure art and craziness ... as a manifestation of one’s own creativity. The partnership has come up through the project network of “StartUpcycling” in 2016, developing several youth programmes on alternative waste reduction and creative recycling.

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The Association UEZ (founded in 2004) is a non-profit organization creating programmes for human and sustainable development in various social fields.

The basis of all the activitities is to highlight the co-existence and dignity of man, as well as to promote the principles of Economy of communion, a new model of sharing economy. The NGO is actively promoting the construction of ethical goals and values in business and a culture of peace in society. UEZ thus organizes educational and creative workshops, lectures, congresses, seminars and other events co-operating with state, civil and international institutions that strive for similar objectives.

Since 2016, UEZ has become a Croatian hub in an International Incubation Network of Economy of Communion, a global project for incubating new businesses that want to work for an alternative economy system – more just and fair to society and the environment. UEZ was a partner in the past Danube project “Future Lab” and further European projects with Starkmacher e.V.

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Apps collection by Vanessa Elges

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Code Check

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Ecosia

•

Litterati

•

Replace Plastic

•

Too Good To Go

•

Refill

•

Freewa

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Literature collection by Vanessa Elges Alexander, Cathrine and Joshua Reno (Eds.) (2012): Economies of Recycling : The Global Transformation of Materials, Values and Social Relations. VIII. London [u.a.]: Zed Books.

Campkin, Ben and Rosie Cox (Hg.) (2010): Dirt. New Geographies of Cleanliness and Contamination.

London u. a.: I.B. Tauris.

Carolan, Michael (2016): Cheapanomics. Warum billig zu teuer ist. Schriftreihe Band 1674. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.

Harrison, Sarah K. (2016): Waste Matters. Urban Margins in Contemporary Literature.

London: Routledge.

Hawkins, Gay (Hg.) (2003): Culture and waste. The creation and destruction of value.

Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

Humes, E. (2012): Garbology. Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash. New York: Avery.

Johnson, B. (2013). Zero waste home: The ultimate guide to simplifying your life by reducing your waste (1. ed.). New York: Scribner.

Kellogg, K. (2019). 101 ways to go zero waste. New York, NY: The Countryman Press, a division of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Khanna, Sunil (ed.) (1996): Wealth from waste. New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute. (CATS: 219 wiw 2000 /1418).

Laporte, Dominique (2002): History of Shit. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press.

Leonard, A., & Conrad, A. (2011). The story of stuff: The impact of overconsumption on the planet, our communities, and our health - and how we can make it better.

New York NY u.a.: Free Press.

McDonough, W., & Braungart, M. (2002). Cradle to cradle: Remaking the way we make things (1. ed.). New York, NY: North Point Press.

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Scanlan, Johannes (2005): On Garbage. London: Reaktion Books.

Singh, K. K. (ed.) (2007): Sustainable resource management/2. New Delhi: M D Publication.

Spelman, Elizabeth V. (2016): Trash talks. Revelations in the rubbish. New York: Oxford University Press.

Su, S. (2018). Zero waste: Simple life hacks to drastically reduce your trash. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.

Thompson, Michael (1979): Rubbish Theory. The Creation and Destruction of Value.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Zimring, Carl A. and William L. Rathje (Hg.) (2012): Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste. The Social Science of Garbage. California: SAGE.

Reports on Waste and Plastic

by Anastasiia Martynenko •

Plastic and Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet (2020)

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Plastic and Climate Change: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet (2019)

•

Branded III, The Brand Audit Report. Demanding Corporate Accountability for Plastic Pollution (2020)

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Plastic Rivers

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Plastic Banlist 2.0 (2017)

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Plastic Atlas (2019)

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Fossil Fashion: The hidden reliance of Fashion on Fossil Fuels (2021)

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Filmography Climate Change: •

Before the Flood (2016) with Leonardo Dicaprio

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An inconvenient Truth (2006)

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The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

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Arctic Tale (2007)

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The Age of Stupid (2009)

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Climate Change – The Facts (2019)

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Waterworld (1995)

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Chasing Ice (2012)

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Merchants of Doubt (2014)

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Carbon Nation (2010)

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Tomorrow – The world is full of solutions (2015)

Waste, Consumption and Food •

Plastic Planet (2009)

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La belle Verte (1996)

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Trashed (2012) with Jeremy Airons

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A Plastic Planet (2009)

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The Story of Plastic (2019)

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No impact man (2010)

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Minimalism (2016)

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Food, Inc. (2008)

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Human Footprint (2007)

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E-waste tragedy (2014)

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Tapped (2009)

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Rotten (Netflix)

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•

Broken (2019, Netflix)

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The True Cost (2015)

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Erin Brokovich (2000) with Julia Roberts

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Human Footprint (2007)

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Нome (2009)

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How to Destroy the World (2010)

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Dark Waters (2019)

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Dark Side of the Chew (2014)

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Coca-Cola's plastic secrets | DW Documentary (2018)

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Wasteland (2018)

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Oceans: The mystery of the missing plastics (2016)

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The light bulb conspiracy (2010)

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Flow: For love of water (2008)

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A Plastic Ocean - We need a wave of change (2016)

Short documentaries •

The Story of Stuff

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The Story of a Spoon

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The Story of Change

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The Story of Plastic (2021)

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Life cycle of a T-shirt

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The Story of Bottled Water

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away

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The circular economy: from consumer to user

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How long will human impacts last?

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Animated Movies •

Wall-e (2008)

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Fern Gully: The last Rainforest (1992)

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Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (2012)

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

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Interesting links •

A sailing waste built of plastic waste: The Flipflopi

•

Alternative to Google: Ecosia

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Breaking Free From Plastic

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Concept on circular economy: cradle to cradle (C2C)

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Ecological footprint calculator

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Free your stuff: reusing and sharing things (German)

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How to build your own cargo bike

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Mapping for good: listing sustainable organisations and businesses (Karte von Morgen)

•

Plastic Oceans

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Precious Plastic

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Saving food waste: foodsharing (German)

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Smarticular - simple sustainable living

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StartUpcycling

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Transition Town

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If you’ve enjoyed this book and like our project, would you consider giving feedback? We are eager to further connect with people from all over the Danube who share the same interest and passion to empower youth and refuse waste at the same time.

Contact us and join our network!

Facebook Instagram

Email: info@starkmacher.eu (Co-ordinating entity)

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Glossary of Waste WASTE

‘[…] waste is a mirror of humanity, a means or intermediary by which to reflect on ourselves’ (Reno 2015: 558)

TRASH

waste material; refuse

RUBBISH

something you don't need or use, can't be eaten

GARBAGE

unwanted object or material

LITTER

open or public space

RECYCLABLES

objects that can be used again; alternative to garbage

POLLUTION

toxic waste – dangerous for nature, animals and humans

SURPLUS

german origin 'Mehrwert' by Karl Marx

CLUTTER

a collection of things lying around in an untidy state

CRAP

excrement

DEBRIS

synonym for trash, waste

DECREASE

process that doesn't happen immediately; synonym to reduction

DETRITUS

organic material produced by living creatures, used in biology -> baterias

REFUSE

formal word: non hazardous waste; trash and rubbish

SCRAP

left over materials

SPOILAGE

waste produced by material or food being spoilt, e.g. paper that is spoilt in printing

TUSH

literally used for nonsense

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Imprint The provider of this booklet is Starkmacher e.V.: Starkmacher e.V. Coblitzallee 8 68163 Mannheim Germany Tel: +49 (0) 621 4960 2693 Fax: +49 (0) 621 4960 2694 E-Mail: info(at)starkmacher.eu Internet: www.starkmacher.eu Legally liable: Chairman: Christian Röser Vice chairmen: Nicolas Bosch and Johannes Epping

Content and Editing:

Amava Oluntu, Teresa Boulle, Anastasiia Martynenko and partners.

Design:

Marina Piskarova (Mari Vi) - Illustrator & Graphic Designer Maya Oliinyk - Illustrator Morgan Akkerman - Illustrator Vlada Melnychuk - Book layout designer Lada Kovalchuk - Book layout designer

The credits for the pics by Baden Württemberg Stiftung

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Liability note: The information provided in this eBook is constituted with great diligence.

All information, expressed or implied, is given without legal liability.

Legal note: If the eBook contains links or references of providers other than the Starkmacher association, then any of the other provider’s propositions are not covered by the herein enclosed company-specific information and references. Without our expressed written permission, it is prohibited to redistribute or reproduce in any way parts of the contents. Furthermore, the rights for reproduction in any form, especially for print, electronic and other media remain reserved.

The project “Go Zero, Danube” is realized with the financial support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and the Baden Württemberg Stiftung.

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